Depeche Mode: Spirits in the Forest

I enjoyed the movie a lot. It's a very strange experience to see your favourite band at the cinema. I'm used to seeing them in arenas playing live. The individual stories of the six fans picked from sea of devotees were touching. One criticism though is that I thought the film was too short. I think the whole audience was a bit surprised when it came to an end and the credits rolled. Everyone stayed in their seats, just in case there was more to come. I wanted to see more live footage (although I understand that the full show will be coming out next year in a physical format - dvd) and wanted to delve more into these people's lives. Each one different, each one simple in its own way, just reminding us that all stories are worth telling however big or small. They all highlighted what it is to be human, the emotions we feel through the turmoils we encounter in our lives, some more serious than others. And THAT is the connection to Depeche Mode. Their music depicts what it is like to be and feel human. No emotion is left behind. Their music covers pretty much the whole repertoire of emotions and that's why people relate to them. Their music tells us that it's ok to feel even the darkest emotions as they're all part of life. Through Depeche Mode one learns acceptance; of others, but most importantly of oneself. A lot like therapy, but so much more exciting.

Spirit in the forest is everything Anton Corbijn promised and more from taking us into the lives of the 5 fans and their journeys through life and Depeche Mode. Every Depeche Mode fan around the world can relate to some part of the story in someway. Visually the movie is typical Anton with every shot thought about through photographic eyes. The band continue to prove what a force Depeche Mode are late into there fifties, filling stadiums across the globe. Dave has developed into a master story teller on the stage with Martin and the rest of the guys providing the spine to what is Depeche Mode. This is a film for Depeche Mode fans a true reflection of all us and our love for Depeche Mode

Growing up with this band and basically living and breathing them as well as seeing them on many occasions on stage, behind the stage as well as touring after them to many different locations, meeting different cultures, the creativity of people and the whole cult around this band was something the movie just scratched at the surface. Unfortunately is the connection between the band (btw only seen on stage throughout the movie) - and fans very much disjointed in this movie. A meet and great, behind the scenes , maybe? Is it really necessary to tell us a fans live story. Where is the connection to the band? Am I really interested as a DM fan? Yes there have been a couple of short very good examples, worth mentioning the "Romanian king" or the Colombian DMK story, Not enough though. Where are the crazy collectors, the 'look a likes'., the fan stories that still create goosebumps due their similarities to your own...? And that's what this movie should have been all about.

I was a bit skeptical about the fan stories at the beginning, but I had to realize it made the movie much more special than just a concert film . All the stories were unique and different from each other , some of them were really emotional, the others were inspiring. The concert itself was obviously brilliant, Dave made an outstanding performance as always and so are the others. I really loved the entire build up of the movie, showing a bit of the fans, then showing a bit of the concert back and forth during the entire movie. It's a must see to every Depeche Mode fan, wherever you're a hardcore fan or someone who just go into their music, because this movie will make you appreciate their music much better.

The movie shows what an impact Depeche mode can have on their fans and how loyal they can be. Only true devotees can fully appreciate the movie as only they will relive the feelings from DM concerts. But also other people might get a lot out of the movie if they don't expect something that this movie is not.

DM fan? Go and see the movie.