Oscilloscope Laboratories announced today that it has acquired US rights to Florian Habicht’s witty, innovative documentary PULP: A FILM ABOUT LIFE, DEATH, AND SUPERMARKETS. The movie is an homage to the legendary titular band (perhaps the smartest and most charismatic in all of all Britpop) as they prepare to say farewell after 25 years of performances and 10 million albums sold. PULP had its world premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and will next screen at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival. It will continue to play select festivals ahead of its release in theaters and across digital platforms.
Though culminating with the farewell concert the band played to thousands of adoring fans in their hometown of Sheffield, England, PULP is by no means a traditional concert film or rock doc. As much a testament to the band as it is to the city and inhabitants of Sheffield, PULP weaves exclusive concert footage with man-on-the-street interviews and dreamy staged sequences to paint a picture much larger, funnier, moving, and life-affirming than any music film of recent memory.
About the acquisition, O-scope’s Dan Berger and David Laub said, “We were enamored by PULP from the moment it started. As fans, we felt predisposed to appreciate it, but couldn’t have been more thrilled to experience a film that did so much more than simply showcase a band that we like. Florian proves himself as one of the great music documentarians, as he not only masterfully captures the world and music of Pulp, but gives voice to all the common people who love them and have supported them in their inspiring and unique success.
Filmmaker Florian Habicht said, “When I saw Pulp perform at Radio City in NYC exactly two years ago, I would never have dreamt I’d have my own film about them playing in cinemas in the U.S.We set out to make a film where the band isn’t the centre of the universe, since this approach seemed to be in line with Pulp’s own attitude to life and fame. So their home town and its inhabitants became a big part of the movie. I loved spending time in Sheffield and I loved spending time with the band, and hope that American audiences will too.”
PULP: A FILM ABOUT LIFE, DEATH, AND SUPERMARKETS was produced by Alex Boden for Pistachio Pictures, with Hugo Heppell, Susan Jacobson, Will Clarke, Mike Runagall, Eve Gabereau, Edward Fletcher and Steve Milne of British Film Company serving as Executive Producers. PULP was made with the support of Screen Yorkshire through the Yorkshire Content Fund.
The deal was negotiated by O-Scope’s Dan Berger and David Laub with Altitude Film Sales’ Mike Runagall on behalf of the producers.