A long line of Justice fans, and those “just there for the DJs,” braved the freezing-cold weather during the delayed entry into the Metro to attend the Chicago premiere of Justice’s documentary, A Cross the Universe, at a special midnight screening on Friday, November 14.
Though not quite the universe, the documentary follows Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay across the USA. The self-described “electro-Christian/club” duo manages to find itself in several peculiar circumstances.
Directed by Romain Gravas, A Cross the Universe is composed of footage from Justice’s entire US tour. Each documented moment is an attempt to share the duo’s tour experiences with fans in an organic fashion. Though other documentaries have employed this technique successfully, A Cross the Universe is more of a Jackass/Borat hybrid.
Through the shaky camera lens, Auge and Rosnay are seen pulling all sorts of pranks, many of which exploit American stereotypes.
Look! Justice is purchasing shotguns to fire at the local shooting range. Here they are indulging in some fine American cuisine from Burger King. Oh no, Auge is walking down the aisle in a Vegas church — hope he does not regret that in the morning!
These, among other shenanigans, are inner-spliced with over-modulated concert footage, which sounds more like a passing car blaring its sub woofers than a recognizable song.
However, Friday’s crowd seemed entertained by the duo’s callow behavior. The hundreds of people lining the venue laughed and cheered through every scene. Some managed to find a palpable beat among the blistering bass and even started to dance.
Eamon Harkin took the stage immediately following the screening, giving anyone who wasn’t dancing during the documentary a reason to start. Droves of attendees dressed in plaid, day-glo, and leather rushed the stage as Harkin, DJ Bald Eagle and the Yello Fever trio (comprised of DJs Skyler, Kid Color and Jobot) spun until 4 AM.
Though the night was full of mash-ups and remixes, the crowd’s energy — expressed through a variety of fist pumps, grinding, jumping up and down and throwing the bow ‘n’ arrow — was reminiscent of a Justice concert, proving that there was something gained from the screening (even though I don’t know what that was).
– Katelyn Bogucki
Justice: www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous
El Nino: www.elnino.tv