ABOVE: Watch Matt Berninger of The National on Global’s The Morning Show.
TORONTO — Fans unable to score tickets to one of The National’s three sold-out shows this week at Toronto’s Massey Hall can get their fix by seeing the acclaimed rock band on the big screen about four kilometres away at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema.
On hand Thursday to introduce the first of eight screenings of Mistaken For Strangers will be The National’s singer Matt Berninger.
He doesn’t see it as a typical rock documentary.
“It turned into something different, something more interesting and more significant than that,” Berninger explained during an appearance on Global’s The Morning Show.
The feature doc was directed by the 43-year-old singer’s younger brother Tom Berninger, who was hired to work as a roadie during The National’s tour.
“We as a band weren’t even that interested in having a profile film about us,” Matt said, “so what he pulled off is, for us, much more exciting and fitting for our band.”
The film — produced by Matt and his wife Carin Besser — premiered last year and has earned rave reviews.
His little brother’s introduction to life on the road doesn’t go well. Spoiler alert: He gets fired.
“We’re grown up and married, most of us, and he was hoping there would be much more of the classic rock ‘n’ roll debauchery and fun that he expected on tour,” Berninger said, “and it wasn’t that so he tried to bring that himself a little bit to the tour, which led to his demise.”
The result is a film that is equally funny and emotional, particularly for anyone with a sibling. Mistaken For Strangers is not merely for fans of The National.
The band has released six albums since 2001 and its latest, Trouble Will Find Me, earned a Grammy nomination.
Berninger said the film was a learning experience for he and his brother.
“I’ve learned to respect the way he is in the world and he’s very different than I am,” he said. “We’re just different people.
The National performs April 9, 10 and 11 at Massey Hall in Toronto. Mistaken For Strangers screens at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema April 10 to 17.
BELOW: Watch the trailer for Mistaken For Strangers.
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