Pavements Documentary Redefines Band’s Legacy with Innovative Storytelling

The documentary 'Pavements,' directed by Alex Ross Perry, offers a nontraditional exploration of the 1990s indie-rock band Pavement by blending archival footage, interviews, and inventive storytelling methods. Rather than following the typical rock documentary formula, the film interweaves several artistic mediums, including a jukebox musical ('Slanted! Enchanted!'), a museum show of real and imagined band memorabilia, and a satirical biopic-within-the-film ('Range Life'), alongside footage from the band's 2022 reunion tour. This kaleidoscopic, self-aware approach both celebrates the band's anti-stardom and pokes fun at the conventions of music documentaries, creating an experience that oscillates between sincerity and parody. The film highlights how Pavement's legacy has grown post-breakup, attracting new generations of fans, while also questioning how artists and filmmakers can evolve their narratives amid shifting cultural landscapes. Through its playful deconstruction of mythmaking and legacy, 'Pavements' stands out as a unique tribute that both honors and reinvents the ways musicians are documented on screen.