Review of The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights (2009) by Blake P — 09 Nov 2013

I may have a bit of a bias considering The White Stripes is one of my favorite bands, but no matter, "Under Great White Northern Lights" is a triumph as a concert documentary: it's stylishly shot, filled to the brim with electrifying performances, intimate, and a complete dream for fans of the enigmatic twosome. Is it as accessible for newcomers? Not necessarily, but one way or another, your opinion of The White Stripes will somehow be heightened.

Though released in 2010, the documentary covers their 2007 tour in support of "Icky Thump", their final album. At this point in their career, Jack and Meg White were musical giants: achieving massive success due to 2001's "White Blood Cells", and winning three Grammys for Best Alternative Album ("Elephant" through "Icky Thump" itself) in the meantime, the twosome had toured most of the world - except for Canada. The Whites make it their mission to perform all over Canada, no matter how rural. Throughout their tour, they play big venues, small venues, and even surprise performances that range from peculiar spaces such as bowling allies, or even retirement homes.

The White Stripes have personas that have a strong scent of wackiness - they dress in and set up their stage in red, white, and black, Jack plays guitars with vintage actresses on the back, and Meg's drum heads are designed as peppermints. Their pale skin, black hair, and mystique gives them a certain air that gives them the look of true rock stars. "Under Great White Northern Lights" perfectly matches them, frequently filmed through a black-and-white or red lens, intercut with eccentric instances throughout their tour - we see them perform a one-note show (in order to achieve a world record) in the middle of the day, on a bus, in a school, at a mill - anywhere in Canada. It instantly could make any non-Canadian fan jealous.

But for gigantic fans that are watching, "Under Great White Northern Lights" confirms why we love The White Stripes. Surely, from the outside they can be looked at as a gimmick - they only dress in three colors, there's only two members, and they're brother and sister (which was actually a façade formed by the ex-spouses). From an inside perspective, the simplicity makes you focus more on the music, flawless in its blues and delivery. One critic remarked that The White Stripes are nothing but a couple of Led Zeppelin knock-offs. How can you say that about one of the most original and talented bands of our generation?

In the end, it's sad to watch the film, because even if one does see them as Led Zeppelin knock-offs (which is a completely ignorant thing to say), this Canadian tour was one of their last until their breakup in 2011. The final scene, which sees Jack playing piano ballad "White Moon", leaves one almost emotionally scarred, as Meg breaks down in tears and the song itself is subtly melancholy. It sends the message that the end is near, and even though it has been two years since the end happened, it still leaves a bruise.