May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers built their global fanbase on soulful, unvarnished acoustic songs. But the folk faithful have been tested since the brothers from Concord hooked up with legendary pop producer Rick Rubin, who loves varnish. He worked in rock drums, electric instruments, and even—gasp!—electronic backing. This came to a head in 2016 on True Sadness, which produced the Avetts’ first number-one hit, the perfectly Rubinesque “Ain’t No Man.” Codirected by Judd Apatow, May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers documents the creation of True Sadness with a superfan’s ogling admiration, but also with a famous director’s confidence to probe. If the record spelled a betrayal of rusticity to some fans, it meant something very different to its creators. Though the film brims with music, it’s less about the Avetts’ voyage into new commercial waters than it is about unpacking the joys and sorrows behind the songs. A flattering but penetrating portrait, it resembles its subjects—intimate, earnest, friendly, humble, a little goofy, and utterly apolitical. —Brian Howe