Kings of Leon Documentary Debuts, Reveals Enduring Pentecostal Beliefs
The documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of the Kings of Leon,” made its television debut on Sunday night, giving fans insight about the rock band, its beginnings and struggles.
Footage of the band, consisting of brothers Caleb, Nathan, Jared Followill and their cousin Matthew, were compiled into a film that shows the young men growing up in a Pentecostal household and beginning to sing rock music. Stephen C. Mitchell began filming the group 10 years ago and incorporated the family’s home videos to create a unique documentary.
"Our goal from the start was to avoid making a typical rock doc," Mitchell said, according to New York Daily News. "This story is too good, the characters too colorful and the topics too broad."
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The film first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April and was named after the band’s annual family reunion in Talihina, Okla., where their influences and vulnerabilities can be found. According to Mitchell, the band's family’s appearance makes the film memorable for fans.
"They're great story tellers and they know that their family is special," Mitchell said, according to New York Daily News. "Ultimately, they understand that in order to tell a proper story, you have let yourself be vulnerable."
Although KOL executive produced the documentary, giving them the final word on which footage made the film, there are still some embarrassing coming-of-age moments included, according to Mitchell.
"I know I'm going to see this on 'Before They Were Famous' for the rest of my life," Caleb told Mitchell, New York Daily News reported.
The documentary also shows the group’s previous dedication to the Pentecostal faith, which Mitchell says has not necessarily disappeared.
“This really is their true back story, this shows the Pentecostal world they came from and the ministry,” Mitchell said. “Even though you grow and advance in the world and change your views somewhat, I still think some of those core beliefs are there.”
Fans of KOL can next view the documentary on Monday at 10:05 p.m. on Showtime.
