Mistaken for Strangers (2013)

Mistaken for Strangers is the rare music documentary that uses a tour as a doorway into something richer: the messy, funny, deeply human push-and-pull between two brothers who love each other but don’t quite speak the same emotional language. Instead of polishing The National into rock-god mythology, it lets the camera linger on awkward silences, impulsive jokes, and the kind of honest friction that makes real relationships feel lived-in. The vibe is equal parts backstage hangout, deadpan comedy, and unexpectedly tender self-portrait, with moments that hit harder precisely because they aren’t staged. If you’re looking for a straight concert film or a fan-service victory lap, this may surprise you—but if you want a poignant, hilarious look at artistic yearning and family dynamics, it’s an easy recommendation.

Mistaken for Strangers is clearly trying to be more than a standard tour doc, using The National’s big moment as a backdrop for a messy, funny, sometimes tender brother story about creative ambition and insecurity. When it works, it’s disarmingly personal and you’ll get a few genuinely entertaining glimpses of life on the road, especially if you like watching artists and families collide. But it can feel uneven and a bit self-absorbed, with the filmmaking angst taking over and the narrative losing focus as it goes, especially in the back half. If you’re here for a tight, music-first documentary or you have low tolerance for awkward, self-deprecating “isn’t this all kind of pointless?” energy, this may test your patience.