Directed by Los Angeles-based filmmaker and former Athenian Jason Miller, The Past is a Grotesque Animal documents the often-bizarre yet overall brilliant artistic journey of eccentric frontman Kevin Barnes and the rise of local pop band of Montreal. After years of accumulating live footage of the band, Miller set out to turn it all into something, whittling down roughly 12 terabytes of performances, photos, posters and artwork files into a feature-length film. Through live shows, recording sessions, home videos starting with the earliest of Montreal line-ups, and interviews with band members, crew members and friends, The Past reveals a candid glimpse into Barnes’ artistic obsession and the difficult balance between making transcendent music and maintaining relationships with those around him. The project was funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign through which over 1,000 people contributed towards raising nearly $95,000, exceeding the original $75,000 goal. Both Miller and co-producer Andrew Napier will be in attendance for Friday’s premiere screening.
7:30 p.m. $10. www.athenscine.com
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