Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 | Posted by Jessica Moy

O’ Great White Northern Stripes

Michigan punk rock duo, Jack and Meg from The White Stripes, embarked on an historical Canadian tour in 2007 by performing in every province and territory in the great white north. The Stripes became the first band to travel Canada in one swoop on their most talked about – Icky Thump tour.

Cameras followed Jack and Meg, documenting insight on their mysterious lives and eclectic music. September 2009 rolled around and their project, Under Great White Northern Lights premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Directed by Emmett Mallory, he takes the viewers on an inside look at the Stripes concerts and behind the stage footage. Along with their traditional shows in big cities, the Stripes also performed unpromoted gigs at unconventional venues. According to Jack, playing out of the way shows are better, for it brings people together and adds an element of surprise. While a stage is a typical home of any rockstar, the Stripes played a kids-only gig in Toronto, on a Winnipeg public bus, and an old folk’s home in Iqaluit.

Playing together for a decade, the duo has seen its fair share of criticism. Most famously, they have been labelled the most fake and the most real band ever. Through the documentary, this statement is testified, Jack suprisingly believes it is a fair description. Director Mallory says, “That’s what I like about the band, that’s what I like about this film, is that we expose probably more than you ever knew about the White Stripes, but yet, really nothing at all.”

At first Jack comes across as being a dark mysterious rockstar. As the documentry continues, the viewers get to know his spark, beauty and growth. Easily, you can connect him through the Stripes music, and why it is driven to be unconventional. Meg is the quiet one of the two, having subtitles for her whispered speech.

At one point, Meg told Jack she did not have a great show, while Jack kept saying “what? what did you say? I can’t hear you”, he followed up with one of my favorite quotes, “quiet people, Randy Newman said short people got no reason to live, he must have never met a quiet person.”

Throughout the entire documentary, the Stripes prove themselves as true artists, doing it all for the love of fans and pure passion for music.

The ending punctures a powerful feeling for the the duo and viewers. Jack and Meg sing Little Ghost on an old piano - a song about seeing things you alone can see. Jack stops playing and gives a warm embrace to Meg who starts to cry. The viewers are not informed of the reason, but why does it need to be explained? The mystery and music of The White Stripes is why this documentry is a worthwhile.