Directed by Emmett Smith, The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights is a documentary film about The White Stripes 2007 Canadian tour. Smith seems to have fallen under the spell of Jack White. Most of the film is in black and white and red. The signature look and sound of The White Stripes minimalist, garage, punk, blues rock comes through in every aspect of the film down to the picture resolution. The handheld angles and slightly grainy resolution add depth and raw feeling, brought out of simplicity, to the visual element of the film fitting in perfectly with the music of the Stripes.

In the vein of no direction home, Under Great Northern Lights splits focus between the raw and visceral rock and roll of The White Stripes, their relationship with their fans and the complicated and mysterious relationship between Jack and Meg White. The film is broken down into shots of their stadium concerts, the free and impromptu shows given in each show stop, behind the scenes with Jack and Meg and the Canadian landscape.

The shots of the spontaneous concerts show the type of rock and roll magic that made The White Stripes legendary. Magic is the only description that seems fitting when seeing them rock a city bus in Winnipeg full of everyday people singing along to “The Wheels on the Bus”, or sitting in a small establishment on Ragged Ass road in Yellowknife asking the owner if he minds if they play a few songs. I think Stripes could give the Rolling Stones a few tips on how to give a proper free concert.

This movie is a must see for any fan of The White Stripes and anyone interested in modern rock. The movie is as loud, brash and raw as the music it portrays, meaning it is not for the faint of heart.