Scotland has a long tradition of producing ground-breaking and high quality independent music. Glasgow has usually acted as a focal point for this. Hot on the heels of the likes of The Pastels and Teenage Fanclub, a group of bands sprang up around the Chemikal Underground label. The likes of The Delgados, Mogwai, Bis, Arab Strap and Franz Ferdinand were the face of Scottish music for a generation.
In 1997 a busload of drunken Scots went on a trip to France. Their destination was the unlikely venue of the small town of Mauron. Niall McCann’s film Lost in France follows a handful of these musicians as they return to Brittany twenty years later. Older and wiser they may be, but they’re still full of mischief. The documentary follows Stewart Henderson, Emma Pollock, Paul Savage, RH Hubbert, Stuart Braithwaite and Alex Kapranos as they reminisce about old times, whilst at the same time catching up with each other.
The beauty of Lost in France is its simplicity. By following the musicians as they return to a significant place and time in their pasts, we get a glimpse into their lives, both then and now. There’s a lovely camaraderie between the group, and whilst they’ve all have been through many highs and lows over the last twenty years, a sense of community has never gone away. Just watching them sharing memories, discussing music and talking bollocks makes Lost in France a fascinating watch.
Lost in France, with a special live performance, is being screened to cinemas around the country on 21 February. It will be available on demand form 24 February.
