Starting with a 1978 snapshot of a 15-year-old Jarvis Cocker drafting a mission statement in a Sheffield comprehensive classroom, the film traces the Sheffield band’s extraordinary journey from humble beginnings to headlining the O2. Now in their second tour after a decade-long hiatus, Pulp performed to crowds of 20,000 over two nights in London last year.
The documentary combines footage from those triumphant performances with autobiographical reflections, nostalgic archive clips, and interviews with Cocker’s mother and grandmother. A still-vigorous Cocker, now in his early 60s, leads the classic lineup alongside a 10-piece string section as they perform their art-pop anthems, while Cocker narrates the backstory of how he and his classmates—rejected for sports teams—eventually reached the pinnacle of the music industry.
Sheffield to the O2 in one go. The sheer improbability of that arc is what makes Pulp’s story so enduringly fascinating.
I’m skeptical. Docudramas often sugarcoat the drama. Hoping this one feels honest and not just like a promotional piece for the tour.
Does the film really explore the tension with their record label, or is it just a smooth, nostalgic journey?
Wait, they really started with a classroom mission statement? That is absolutely hilarious and inspiring at the same time.
Finally, a documentary that proves wit and warmth can outshine even the biggest hits. Brilliant film.