Seven Things I Learned From The National Documentary

For a behind-the-scenes documentary made on tour with The National, Mistaken for Strangers isn’t so much about the widely adored, Grammy-nominated indie rock band. Rather, it’s mostly about the filmmaker himself: Tom Berninger, younger brother to National frontman Matt Berninger by a telling nine years.

Hired as a roadie for the band’s year-long tour behind 2010’s High Violet, Berninger decides to make a film of his experiences on the fly – despite that not being remotely in the job description. What follows is an awkward portrait of a little brother trying to find his way in the shadow of a sibling who seems perfect by comparison.

Thanks to Tom’s hammy humour, unprofessional approach and inevitable growing pains, Mistaken for Strangers is more like the shaggy-dog but ultimately moving Anvil than most by-the-number rock docos. But it’s still chockers with new revelations for National fans.

Behold the biggest below, ahead of the band’s Australian tour this month and screenings across the country – including select Q&As with Matt Berninger.

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1. Tom Berninger Is Kind Of A Trainwreck

At the film’s start, Matt calls his younger brother a metalhead who probably “thinks indie rock is pretentious bullshit.” It’s a pretty accurate introduction to Tom, who proudly talks up the no-budget action/horror shorts he’s made – all involving a “murderous rampage.”

But that’s just the start: once on tour with the band, Tom somehow spills milk and cereal on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night (and doesn’t clean it up), hangs his wet bathers in the tour bus, and misses getting on in one city because he’s having too good a time at the bar. Later, an in-the-works screening of the film goes wrong, due in part to his lack of preparation. Tom seems almost proud of being annoying on tour, leaning on a certain “idiot abroad” shtick, but he is contrite by the end.

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2. The Band Shrug Off Tom’s Antics (For The Most Part) 

As you might expect, Matt Berninger bristles in the face of his little brother’s ridiculous interview questions and juvenile behaviour. That is, when Tom can even be bothered interviewing anyone. Instead he whinges to guitarist Bryce Dessner about Matt, and leaves guitarist Aaron Dessner talking to the camera so he can procure some wine.

Tom is hilariously vexing and relentless with awkward banter. He gets drunk and stoned with drummer Bryan Devendorf, whom he calls “more metal” than “coffeehouse”, unlike the rest of the band. Matt’s quick temper aside, the band’s good humour makes for the perfect corrective to their typically serious image.

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3. The Movie Romanticises Touring (In A Goofy Way) 

Wanna sleep like a baby in compact beds at the back of a tour bus? Request a bar of Toblerone on the slightest whim? Fly from Europe to L.A. to a Democratic rally in Madison, Wisconsin, only to have your photo taken with President Obama? Yes? Then, by all means, start a band right now and get living the dream!

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4. A Lot Of Famous People Like The National

Tom gets told off for losing the band’s guest list in L.A. Among the guests stranded outside for 45 minutes? Veteran filmmaker Werner Herzog – later seen schmoozing with the band post-gig – and much of the cast of Lost. In another scene, Will Arnett, Emily Blunt and The Office’s John Krasinski casually mingle backstage.

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5. It’s Really A Movie About Brothers

Tom mentions riding his brother’s coattails, and in one scene he literally follows his brother around as a roadie, keeping an epic mic cable untangled while Matt makes his way through the crowd to the lobby of a venue. Matt gets recognised on the street in Europe, while Tom is told he’s only there because he’s Matt’s brother. Aaron cites the underdog/alpha-male dynamic between the two, advising Tom: “You’re not gonna win.” Even their own mum tells him: “Matt was a lot easier to raise.”

Matt’s moodiness comes up a few times, but so too does his lifelong golden-boy status in the family, while Tom gets reminded that he’s never been as successful as his big bro. “You always wanted to quit things,” his mother tells him.

If that sounds bleak, it’s all part of growing pains that will be familiar to anyone who’s ever had a sibling – or a band, or a family, for that matter.

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6. The National Kill It Live

Seriously. It’s not a concert film by any means, but we see clips of the band smashing it in a variety of cities, with Matt screaming, climbing and crowd-surfing his way to an even more obsessive cult following. We also see them rehearsing ‘I Should Live in Salt’ from last year’s album Trouble Will Find Me.

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7. Moby Lives In A Castle

While Tom lounges in a hotel pool in L.A., Matt points to a castle-like house on the hill across the way and says he thinks Moby lives there, based on a real estate article he read. Tom screams out for Moby in one of the movie’s funniest moments – and one of the many times when his spontaneous brashness dovetails with unlikely charm.

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MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS AUSTRALIAN SCREENINGS

Each feature a Q&A with The National lead singer, Matt Berninger

Adelaide:  February 5, 7pm @ Wallis Piccadilly — tickets here

The National are playing on February 6 @ The Barton Theatre — tickets here

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Sydney: February 8, 4pm and 4.30pm @ Dendy Opera Quays — sold out

The National are playing on February 7 & 8 @ The Opera House Forecourt — tickets here

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Melbourne: February 9, 4pm, 4.30pm, 5pm @ Cinema Nova — all sold out

The National are playing on February 9 @ The Sidney Myer Music Bowl — tickets here

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Brisbane: February 10, 7pm (sold out), 7.30pm @ Dendy Portside — tickets here

The National are playing on February 11 @ the Riverstage — tickets here

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Perth: February 13, 7pm, 7.30pm @ Luna Leederville — tickets here

The National are playing on February 14 @ the Belvoir Ampitheatre — tickets here

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Doug Wallen is Editor of Mess + Noise and Music Editor of The Big Issue. He also writes for Rolling Stone, TheVine, FasterLouder and The Thousands.