In the summer of 1965, as the Beatles prepared for their iconic Shea Stadium performance, the frenzy of Beatlemania was sweeping across America. However, “TWST – Things We Said Today,” premiering at the Venice Film Festival, offers a departure from conventional pop-music documentaries. Director Andrei Ujică has crafted a film that delves into the zeitgeist of the era rather than focusing solely on the music.
Ujică, who expresses little interest in traditional music documentaries, aimed to capture the cultural atmosphere of the time. He notes, “The Beatles weren’t the first to evoke such fervor; previously, there was ‘Lisztomania’ with Franz Liszt, and Frank Sinatra’s performances caused similar excitement.
The Beatles, however, benefited from new technology that allowed them to reach an unprecedented audience. This blend of art, music, and almost religious ecstasy has always intrigued me.”
The film uses a mix of archival material, animation, and fictional narratives to explore these themes. It tells the story of a young writer attempting to compose a short story while engaging with the Beatles’ concert and press events, thanks to his status as the son of a renowned radio DJ. A subplot involves a girl capturing the journey on Super 8 film, adding a layer of ambiguity about her existence in the writer’s narrative.
Ujică, who previously explored political history in his trilogy about the end of Communism, sought to shift focus to a more emotionally driven subject. He describes the 1960s as a pivotal decade in shaping mass culture and pop music, with the Beatles defining the emotional landscape of that generation.
Opting to limit the use of Beatles’ familiar songs due to costly licensing issues, Ujică instead pays homage through innovative storytelling, avoiding traditional interviews and opting for animated characters to represent the band’s elusive presence. This approach aims to offer a fresh, immersive experience rather than relying on nostalgic clichés.