Watch Meeting People Is Easy

Meeting People Is Easy is a documentary film from 1998 directed by Grant Gee that follows the British rock band Radiohead on their Ok Computer world tour. The film offers a fascinating insight into the everyday life of the band members, particularly frontman Thom Yorke, and the struggles they face in coping with their newfound fame and the pressures of maintaining their creative integrity.

The film opens with Radiohead's massive concert at London's Wembley Arena in front of 12,000 fans, setting the stage for the frenzied pace of the rest of the film. As the band travels around the world, performing in different cities and countries, we see the grueling nature of the tour and the toll it takes on the band physically and emotionally.

One of the main themes of Meeting People Is Easy is the tension between the demands of the music industry and the band's desire to stay true to their artistic vision. This tension is most evident in the press interviews that the band must conduct every day, where they are asked the same questions repeatedly and forced to come up with new and interesting ways to answer. Yorke struggles with this aspect of the tour, feeling like he is becoming a "caricature" of himself and losing touch with his true self.

The film also explores the disconnect between Radiohead and their fans, who in many cases are more interested in the band's image and status than their music. In one scene, Yorke describes the frustration he feels when fans come up to him on the street and ask him to "be more famous" or "smile more," ignoring the complexity and depth of his music.

The documentary is expertly edited, with the band's haunting music acting as a counterpoint to the noise and chaos of the world around them. The film's hypnotic rhythm adds to the sense of alienation and dislocation that the band experiences on tour, and the documentary becomes a reflection of the alienation and dislocation that many people experience in the modern world.

Perhaps the most memorable scenes in Meeting People Is Easy are the backstage moments where we see the band members interacting with each other and with the people around them. We see Yorke, the band's sensitive and introspective frontman, struggling to connect with others and maintain his sanity in the face of overwhelming pressure. We see Greenwood, the band's innovative guitarist, quietly working on new musical ideas and helping to keep the band creatively engaged. And we see the other members of the band, including bassist Colin Greenwood, drummer Phil Selway, and rhythm guitarist Ed O'Brien, calmly going about their work and supporting each other.

Overall, Meeting People Is Easy is a fascinating documentary that offers a glimpse into the world of one of the most influential and innovative bands of the modern era. Through its expert editing and haunting music, the film captures the essence of Radiohead and the cultural moment that they helped to define. Whether you are a die-hard Radiohead fan or simply a lover of music documentaries, Meeting People Is Easy is a must-see film that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll.