The extraordinary journey of the band Pulp, from obscurity to cultural benchmark status. The film combines footage of one of the greatest concerts ever performed by Pulp—during the world tour for MORE, the band’s first album in 24 years—with four decades of colourful, previously unseen archive footage.
Who hasn’t heard of “britpop”? This musical movement, defined as a subgenre of pop born from a fusion with rock, drew its inspiration from major 1960s and 70s bands such as The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, as well as glam rock, whose icons included David Bowie. The term was first used in the late 1980s. Bands like The Verve, The Divine Comedy, and of course Pulp, became its representatives in the 90s (although frontman Jarvis Cocker somewhat disputes belonging to this musical style).
Jarvis Cocker, charismatic frontman
Having made a mark on the English and international music scene, this band thus reunites after a 24-year absence, far from recording studios. Their final album, We Love Light, was released in 2001, while Jarvis Cocker, singer, guitarist, and founder of the band, continued working independently from the other members, tackling other projects. During this time, he produced five albums—including one with Chilly Gonzales—collaborated with the film world, and published a book in 2022 entitled Good Pop, Bad Pop.
Jarvis Cocker
For this new album, More, released in 2025, the singer and lyricist changes his working method; he explains taking the time to write fragments of lyrics in advance so he can use them later, and doesn’t hesitate to draw on felt emotions, sensations, or difficulties encountered to approach musical composition in a new way. Precocious by nature, Jarvis Cocker is portrayed in archive footage by some of his family members as having been an imaginative and rather unconventional child and teenager, whose oversized glasses would become one of his trademarks. Between flashbacks, archives, and concert footage, the film primarily highlights the singer’s personality, featuring biting and socially engaged lyrics.
After a long absence…
Pulp was formed in 1978 when Jarvis Cocker, originally from Sheffield, England, was 15 years old. The band’s musical style was then akin to new wave, and originally consisted of four members (aside from the frontman, including Mark Swift on percussion, David Lockwood on bass, and Peter Dalton on guitar). Over the years, the lineup constantly shifted through the departure and arrival of new musicians.
It wasn’t until the early 1990s that the reformed band achieved its first successes, but it was the 1995 album Different Class, featuring tracks like Common People, that would shake up the music industry. A disaffected, even cynical tone blends with social observation and soaring instrumental arrangements; the rhythms are infectious, and the band finds its signature sound, establishing itself firmly on the international music landscape. This would be followed in the early 2000s by a long period of withdrawal.
This documentary was conceived on the occasion of the world tour for their eighth album, More, after the decision to reunite was made in 2022 by five of its members (bassist Steve Mackey, who was meant to join them, passed away in 2023). It intertwines archive footage with interview snippets, photographs of the band members from earlier years, and recordings of their concert tour, notably at London’s O2 Arena. A film that will primarily interest fans and the curious of British rock or pop from past decades; it is enjoyable to watch, but somewhat restrained (we are a far cry from the vibrant 1960s and 70s concert recordings of The Doors, Led Zeppelin, or Nirvana in the 90s).
