Watch Air Guitar Nation

Air Guitar Nation is a 2006 documentary film that delves into the world of competitive air guitar. The film follows the journey of two American air guitar enthusiasts, C-Diddy (Dan Crane) and Björn Türoque (David S. Jung), as they travel to Oulu, Finland, to participate in the Air Guitar World Championships.

The movie begins by introducing the concept of air guitar, where contestants pretend to play guitar on stage while miming the movements and expressions of rock stars with the help of background music. We learn that air guitar is a popular sport in Finland, with a dedicated following and its own set of rules and regulations.

The film then focuses on C-Diddy and Björn Türoque, both of whom are passionate about air guitar and dream of winning the World Championships. C-Diddy, a charismatic and flamboyant performer, is the reigning American Air Guitar Champion and has successfully defended his title six times in a row. He believes that air guitar is more than just a performance, that it’s a way to connect with the audience on a deeper level.

Björn Türoque, on the other hand, is a more serious air guitarist who sees the sport as a way to express himself artistically. Despite having a full-time job and a wife, Björn spends hours practicing every day, hoping to one day become the World Champion.

The two air guitarists travel to Oulu, Finland, where they meet other contestants from around the world, including a Brazilian contestant called "Nordic Thunder" and a Finnish contestant called "The Destroyer." The camaraderie between the contestants is one of the film's strengths, as they bond over their love for air guitar and prepare for the competition.

The movie then builds up to the Air Guitar World Championships, where the contestants are judged on three criteria: technical merit, stage presence, and "airness." The term "airness" refers to the quality of the performance that transcends skill and technique and captures the essence of air guitar.

As the competition draws closer, tensions rise, and the contestants become more competitive. However, the film never loses its sense of humor, and there are several scenes that are both hilarious and heartwarming. The climax of the movie, which takes place during the World Championships, is suspenseful and entertaining, building up to a surprise ending that showcases the best of air guitar.

The cinematography of Air Guitar Nation is excellent, with plenty of close-ups of the contestants' faces as they perform. The film's soundtrack, which includes classic rock songs, is also fantastic, adding to the energy and excitement of the performances.

Overall, Air Guitar Nation is an engaging and entertaining documentary that provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of air guitar. It's a celebration of the power of performance art and the joy of expressing oneself, regardless of whether or not it is a "real" instrument.

Air Guitar Nation is a 2006 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 72.