1. Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008)
While the eighties were a time when some of the most popular Rock acts of the 20th century soared to stardom, not every aspiring metal band made the cut. For the most part, these bands dissolved long ago and continued on with their lives, but one band one tenacious little Canadian power trio has kept at it to this day. Anvil! Meets up with this gang of forgotten musicians and follows them as they embark on yet another tour with the intention of making it big. The documentary finds these charming guys in their little Canadian community, where most of Anvils members are still trying to make ends meat at day jobs. After agreeing to go on a European tour, the band is met with setback after setback, making essentially no money from playing. The band then decides to record their thirteenth album (which they fund with money borrowed from one of their sisters) which never sees much success. The film sounds depressing, but in the face of the grim realities of life and music, the bands leader, Steve Lips Kudlow, feels that the love of family and close friends justifies his decision to rock on. The band is ultimately invited to perform in Japan to an enthusiastic crowd. Anvil! is certainly a bittersweet story, but it might be said that it is less bitter than it is sweet. You see how fame and fortune has torn many recording acts apart, but this one struggling band has been fueled by camaraderie, hope, and a mutual love of musical performance. Kudlows child-like ebullience erupts from the dreary Canadian backdrop, and you can honestly feel this persons love of what he does. Anvil! is an uplifting story that champions the power of community, even amidst failure. What makes documentaries so interesting is how they remove the barriers that traditional film acting erects around its characters. We see candid accounts of people who have real dreams, goals, desires, and hurts, which give us a more robust viewing experience that we can legitimately relate to. Some of these examples are encouraging, and some might be depressing, but they all function as a piece of the puzzle that offers an accurate illustration of the human condition.