The polarising Bristol band are followed from their 2009 inception onwards in Mark Archer’s documentary, which honours their earnestness and energy
Few
British bands are so polarising as Bristol indie-punks Idles. To some (particularly those who spend a lot of time online), their declarative songs about love, Tories,
racism and other big topics are glib, even damaging in their blunt sloganeering. To others, they are vitally important broadsides against a hateful world.
This documentary by Mark Archer very much panders towards the latter category, as it follows the band from their inception in 2009 to their triumphant, tearful Glastonbury performance in 2019. But it makes a virtue of it, with some of its most emotive footage coming from interviews with members of the band’s AF Gang online fanclub and their “this band saved my life” testimonies.