Tourist Guide

Strange Powers: Magnetic Fields

When I first found out that I would be seeing a movie at the Film Forum, I was ecstatic. I knew that this theater did not play mainstream movies, and I’ve seen enough independent films to know that they can be very amusing. When I later learned that the movie I was going to watch was going to be a documentary entitled, “Strange Powers: Magnetic Fields,” I was all the more excited. I have always been a fan of documentaries and the title was very captivating. Though, I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed when I learned that the film was about a musician, because I thought it would be something more scientific or abstract.

The film was about a band named Stephin Meritt and the Magnetic Fields. It followed the lives of the members, their roots and their accomplishments as a band in their nineteen years of existence. However, the film mainly focused on Stephin Meritt, the lead songwriter and composer of the group. Stephin can only be described as an introvert who is both cynical and humorous, creative and daring. He is responsible for the creation of very nonstandard yet strangely appealing and catchy music. I guess that’s where the title comes from. It’s hard to explain, but his persona and his delivery of lyrics just have a way of drawing listeners in, almost forcing them to enjoy and appreciate the music.

This documentary gave people a chance to not only discover a rather fascinating band, but also get a glimpse of the creation process involved in making music. Even if they’re not your favorite band, I’m sure such insight can be very interesting. Throughout the film, one gets to know Stephin on a close level, and then see how his personality is projected onto his music. I enjoyed this because often, this process happens in reverse. First you listen to a band, and then if you like them, you can research its members and their outlooks on life.

All in all, Strange Powers is definitely a film worth watching. Even if you’re not a fan of his music, and even if you’ve never heard of his music, you can still enjoy Stephin’s personality and attitude, which the film seems to grasp perfectly.