Long Time Running – The Tragically Hip Doc

I would be remiss if I did not write an important tribute on the Toronto International Film Festival selected documentary Long Time Running, which tells the closing tale of the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip (who I was lucky enough to see perform at the Canadian Football League halftime show at the Grey Cup in Ottawa). Filmizon.com was never set up to review documentaries, so this short commentary finds its way into the blog section – also signifying the importance of this movie.

From left to right: Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Downie, Johnny Fay, and Gord Sinclair

For those of you who do not know, The Hip have been one of the pre-eminent Canadian rock and roll bands of the past thirty years – consisting of lead singer Gord Downie (his words that of a lyrical lyricist poet), guitarists Rob Baker and Paul Langlois, bassist Gord Sinclair, and drummer Johnny Fay – they have all been friends since childhood. With iconic hits like “New Orleans is Sinking”, “Boots or Hearts”, “Courage”, “At the Hundredth Meridian”, “Fifty-Mission Cap”, “Ahead by a Century” and so many others, they are the number one selling Canadian band of all-time. Never truly gaining major ground in The United States or the rest of the world, they are the rare example of a Canadian artist/group who have resisted the cultural draw to the south and instead stayed in their home and native land. And their music speaks to this. . . in a rare country that does not tout its past, The Hip are the unusual example of making history come alive, developing an almost folkloric mythical quality for Canada’s memorable moments (including hockey), and of late, the longstanding aboriginal plight.

To Canadians this story will be quite well known, but to those reading outside of the country, it will likely be an unfamiliar saga; a tight-knit, democratic band (truly Canadian, each member earns an equal fifth portion – and, as you will know, it is rare to not see a lineup change in over thirty years), people were gobsmacked when news was released on May 24th, 2016, that Downie had terminal brain cancer. Going under the knife to remove part of his brain while also undergoing multiple treatments, it seemed like it was the end for this much loved band.

But, as if by some sort of cosmic miracle (as if time itself was frozen), and through much hard work and suffering, Downie got to a point where he felt like he was in good enough shape to do one more tour – Long Time Running documents this 2016 journey. A fitting tribute, it is this motion picture that truly provides a detailed inside look into their story as they took this final pilgrimage.

Ending in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, the nationally broadcast concert was watched by an emotional 11.7 million (nearly one third of Canada’s population), and this documentary is its backstage companion piece. A must see for any music fan, despite all of the sorrow revolving around the illness, it is a picture which demonstrates that love and music can cure all wounds; and even when dealt a bad hand, it is still up to you to live your life and make your own breaks. As if speaking directly to the viewer, there is a certain magic in seeing someone with such a debilitating condition defying the odds, performing at such a high level (his same old oddball, spastic demeanor, yet mixed with a certain gravitas), the band coming back for three encores. . . it feeling as if they could continue playing forever.

Sadly, Gord Downie passed away a few days ago on October 17th, 2017, which has left a country in mourning. Though, as I sat watching the final moments of the documentary and thought back on their last concert, Downie, along with the rest of the bands’ bravery to lay everything on the line (for good or for bad), going out on top, together, meeting their final fate as a group, music denying the skulking death lurking just in the background, is like something from an epic poem handed down by the scribes of ancient Greece or Rome – and tales by the likes of Homer, as you may or may not know, were sung (drawing a parallel to Downie himself). So, it is only right that The Tragically Hip’s concluding note is fitting of a legendary historical anthem much like one of their own, hopefully to be passed down by another artist or group who has been influenced by these masterful songsters as their own music continues to be enjoyed for a long time running.