The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal
Followed by a Q&A with Producer Bryn Hughes
Friday, November 15th at 6:30pm
168 mins | 2024 | Canada
Dir: Mike Downie
Language: English
The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal
The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal is a definitive four-part documentary series about a bunch of scrappy kids from Kingston, Ontario — Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois and Gord Sinclair — who went on to make music that defined Canada to the world and, more importantly, Canada to Canadians.
Throughout the series, producer-director Mike Downie — brother of the band’s singular frontperson — interweaves never-before-seen archival footage with new interviews with the band, family, friends, and famous fans including Will Arnett, Dan Aykroyd, Jay Baruchel, Sarah Harmer, Geddy Lee, and Justin Trudeau.
Downie pushes past the usual platitudes of the rock doc by exposing sentiments other, more detached directors might omit. The audience is with The Tragically Hip playing those early bars, in the studio as they hone their material, and in the stands as they graduate to stadiums across Canada while struggling to break through in the US. We’re also with them as they experience personal tragedies that influence their music, bonding them as a found family.
We are always aware of the greatest tragedy still to come, yet Downie doesn’t shy away from grief over his brother’s death. It colours every conversation about the band even as their inimitable songs — joyful, raucous, tender, touching — structure his series.
The Tragically Hip wrote Canada’s history in words and music, showing us who we had been, and who we could be. But, as Baruchel points out, “There’s not a single moment of nationalism in any of it. It’s just portrayal.”
Q&A with Producer Bryn Hughes
Bryn Hughes is an award-winning producer based in Toronto and founder of Frequent Flyer Films. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked on numerous critically acclaimed documentary series and features for major broadcasters and platforms, demonstrating a strong ability to bring projects from concept to completion while ensuring the creative vision is maintained. In 2023, Bryn was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for The Perfect Story (2022), and her previous work includes CSA-nominated projects like The Way Out (2019), The Great Wild Indoors (2018), and Gorilla Doctors (2016). She won her first CSA for War Story: Afghanistan (2017). Since 2015, Bryn has taught at Seneca College’s Documentary Filmmaking Institute and is passionate about mentoring emerging filmmakers. As a board member of the Documentary Organization of Canada, she is dedicated to supporting and advocating for the documentary film space.
Screening With:
Terry’s Little Village
Student Shorts Showcase
Terry Wilson is a 70-year-old lifelong resident of Meadowvale Village, Ontario’s first heritage district. As development looms and begins to destroy Terry’s favourite place in the world, he recreates pieces of history in his backyard, crafting an oasis where it feels like nothing has changed. A beautiful tribute to his childhood, his mother, and his town, Terry passionately fights to preserve history in a world that’s too anxious for change.
6 Mins 45s
Canada, 2024
Dir. Jack Kukolic
Language: English
Sponsored by:
