Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams

The documentary tells twenty years of the band. The four met at university, played small venues in London and released a first album. Then came the stadiums. The narrative shows the recording, the preparation of tours and the arguments inside the group; which song goes on the album, which job is accepted, and how much say each of them has. Mat Whitecross directs. The documentary dates from 2018. Its material is largely archive; the director had been filming them since the years the band formed and twenty years of footage went into it. Its most concrete side is the early years; the rehearsal room, the van and the first concerts are shown directly. Disagreements within the group appear but only so far; the narrative passes over the moments of crisis quickly. There are sections about Chris Martin's personal life and these too are kept measured. Its limit is distance; the production was made under the band's own control and there is no critical view. The sections on stage design and tour logistics give technical information. It was presented in a limited number of cinemas on a single night. Who it is for: listeners of Coldplay and viewers who like music documentary. Who it is not for: the register is promotional, there is little new information, and the structure is chronological.