Avicii: True Stories is in select theaters on December 14th, 2018.
I am a big fan of Avicii’s (Tim Bergling) music. So, as you can imagine, I was quite
saddened when hearing of his unexpected passing. I did not know a whole lot about Avicii, or
Tim I should say. I just knew I enjoyed his music, as did so many others. However, that was the
point of this Avicii: True Stories documentary. It gave vast insight into the life of Tim. It showed
how much fans loved and appreciated Avicii and his music. On the contrary though, these fans
did not appreciate who Tim was. When Tim began to feel too much pressure and anxiety being
“Avicii,” his manager and fans backlashed.
Tim Bergling (Avicii) was always on the go. He started out at only 16 years old and
quickly rose to fame. As you can imagine, rising to fame at such a young age, Tim missed out on
a “normal” lifestyle. Always on the road touring and trying to produce the next big hit, he lost
track of who Tim really was. The identity of Avicii took over his life and he lost joy in the things
he once loved. It is truly a reality check to think about how happy the fans were during those
touring concerts and knowing how unhappy Tim was during them. He was in pain and wanted
nothing more than to not be there, while for his fans it was one of the best days ever. All
throughout the film we hear Tim expressing his struggles with anxiety and personality
functioning. It is sad how many times he stated he was unhappy and confused with his life, yet
no one bothered to help him or try to make things easier for him.
This film really makes you realize just how important mental health is, and how needed
mental health professionals are. It also enlightens you to the signs and symptoms of what a
mental illness looks like. Everyone in the film stated how they recognized Tim was no longer
himself and they all listened to Tim’s words of helplessness. Yet, not a single person bothered to
understand exactly what was going on in his life nor did they want to accept the fact that Tim
was suffering. It was very sad to watch, especially when the movie came to an end. This movie
was filmed prior to his unexpected death earlier this year, so the ending stated all of the things
that were to come of Avicii in the future.
I thought that this film was beautifully directed. There was not an overwhelming amount
of people that spoke, as we see in other documentaries. So this made it easier to follow along and
know who was who, while watching. I also enjoyed the collaboration of Avicii’s music all
throughout the documentary. It was a great tribute to a wonderfully talented artist, with no lack
of emotions. For those who have questions regarding Tim’s life and sudden passing, I highly
recommend you watch this film. It will surely come close to answering all your questions. I also
hope that out of everything this film has to offer, it apprises you on mental health and its
importance.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Kelsi (Contributor) raised in Toledo and has been an avid moviegoer since she was little. In her down time you can always find her outdoors enjoying nature or catching up on the latest Netflix series! She’s a huge fan of thrillers, horrors, and comedies.Click Here to check out Kelsi's Articles.