Pop Icon Peaches and Filmmaker Marie Losier Decentralize Cool With Venice Doc ‘Peaches Goes Bananas’

As a cinephile who has witnessed the evolution of indie filmmaking over the past few decades, I must say that “Peaches Goes Bananas” is a refreshing and unique addition to the documentary genre. The 17-year journey captured by Marie Losier offers an intimate glimpse into the life and artistry of pop icon Peaches, providing a raw and unconventional portrayal that feels more like a painting than a traditional documentary.


The path to this year’s Venice Film Festival has been in motion for almost two decades for documentarian Marie Losier and pop icon Peaches (Merrill Nisker). Their encounter backstage at a performance sparked Losier to capture the musician on her Bolex camera, and she continued filming without interruption for 17 years.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the outcome of my latest project is titled “Peaches Goes Bananas,” a deeply personal and offbeat documentary. This unique piece will make its premiere in the Venice Days sidebar, offering an extraordinary cinematic experience.

This upcoming project is the second one centered around Peaches that has been showcased at film festivals this year, preceded by “The Teaches of Peaches” directed by Philipp Fussenegger and Judy Landkammer in Berlin. However, the singer emphasizes that there’s no connection between these two projects.

“Nisker explains to EbMaster that the projects differ significantly,” he said. “One is essentially a snapshot of a specific album in its moment, while Marie’s film isn’t really a documentary in my view. It’s more like an artistic depiction, a portrait. Marie becomes passionate about an artist and then follows her own creative path.”

“According to director Marie Losier, the movie strongly explores the connection between the physical form and artistic expression. It demonstrates that bodies at various life stages and ages have the capacity to generate aesthetical appeal. Moreover, this film is designed to immerse viewers in its music on a tactile level.”

The director accomplished the effect using a handheld camera without sound recording capabilities.

According to Losier, “[Using a Bolex] is filled with unexpected moments.” He explains that since you can’t see what you’re recording, you must fully engage in the present while maintaining focus, only discovering various surprises upon reviewing the footage. This method of filmmaking, he notes, is unique, riddled with challenges and unforeseen events, which he finds captivating.

“She goes on to explain that distinguishing sound from visuals can be just as crucial as the visuals themselves. By not using synchronized sound during filmmaking, you unlock an entire realm of creative possibilities.”

Pop Icon Peaches and Filmmaker Marie Losier Decentralize Cool With Venice Doc ‘Peaches Goes Bananas’

Delving into the private collections of a musician, the movie offers fresh insights into Nisker’s unique creative method. Long before she became a Berlin icon, the young singer taught music to Toronto toddlers. She describes this experience as a fiery trial where her on-stage persona as Peaches was shaped.

According to Nisker, spectators enjoy feeling involved in the performance, as if they possess secret knowledge. However, this isn’t true, but the illusion of ignorance creates an exhilarating experience. It’s entertaining to manipulate this situation, such as feigning forgetting to play their favorite song. The challenge lies in engaging them without allowing them to dominate the show.

Witnessing the icon perform nursery rhymes in an unusual setting, especially amidst a significantly younger audience, was another means to “dilute the allure of rock music’s cool factor.”

Rather than focusing on the typical Behind the Music tropes, Losier emphasizes the singer’s strong bond with her parents and sister. This portrayal strays from traditional conventions, showcasing deep affection and devotion. However, love often brings sorrow and loss – a sentiment intensified by the family’s health issues and the film’s lengthy production spanning 17 years.

“Looking back at the footage years later, I realized how intensely Peaches looked at Suri – something that had escaped me in the moment,” says Losier. “This discovery made the editing process incredibly poignant and emotional for me, as I was so deeply involved. I felt compelled to manage those emotions skillfully to breathe life into the film.”

In this movie, which was grandly produced, the progression of time becomes a significant motif – and the scene where the artist interacts with her own parents highlights one of Nisker’s primary preoccupations.

“In my view, fostering intergenerational dialogue and empathy is crucial at this moment. I’ve noticed that sometimes, our elders – the parents and grandparents – can embody a ‘punk’ spirit more than their children do. After all, they’ve experienced cultural upheavals themselves, which gives them a unique understanding of the rebellious spirit!”

As a performing artist, Peaches wants to embody that attitude.

“She asserts that our culture values youth and their role models, but those who are older now yearn for their own icons. They’re saying, ‘We want this too, we need our moment.’ So I’d like to emphasize that aging and menopause do not signify the end, but rather the start of something new – and it’s fantastic. You no longer have to fret about wearing white, for instance.”

Pop Icon Peaches and Filmmaker Marie Losier Decentralize Cool With Venice Doc ‘Peaches Goes Bananas’

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2024-09-02 08:17