Avicii: True Stories is coming to Netflix, offering fans an insight into the life and work of the beloved Swedish DJ.
The 2017 documentary was removed from Netflix earlier this year, but will return on December 28.
Directed by Stockholm-based filmmaker Levan Tsikurishvili, the documentary follows Tim ‘Avicii’ Bergling over a period of four years; exploring his mental and physical health issues, introversion, and the pressures of touring.
There are of course moments of joy, with Avicii’s enduring passion for electronic music and creative collaboration shining through, despite his discomfort with certain aspects of the music business.
The fly-on-the-wall documentary is a heartbreaking watch in light of Avicii’s death on April 20, 2018, at the age of 28, with certain moments proving even more poignant.
Covering the highs and lows of the gifted DJ’s meteoric rise, the film details how Avicii had been struggling with the stresses of a hectic schedule in the spotlight; using alcohol as a means of calming his nerves before shows.
At one point, an exhausted Avicii can be heard saying:
There was never an end to the shows, even when I hit a wall. My life is all about stress.
In another scene, Avicii’s manager Ash Pournouri stated:
Tim is going to die, with all the interviews, radio tours and playing. He’ll drop dead.
Speaking with The 405 in October 2017, Tsikurishvili spoke about his intentions for a truthful portrayal:
I wanted to do a brutally honest film about Tim as a person and not only about Avicii. Everybody knows Avicii but very few people know Tim.
I think this documentary really shows Tim’s struggle and strength of character. Being a worldwide superstar artist is not as easy as it looks on Instagram.
Tsikurishvili added:
What I think I want people to understand about Avicii is the actual person behind it which is Tim.
What I mean by that is, it’s so easy to judge nowadays from social media, and the press, and all the information we are getting from our phones.
We really don’t know who the person is, but you think you know – that is what I think is the biggest point with that. Also, there is the whole explanation of who he is and how his life has been the past 8 years.
The documentary ends with a seemingly more content Avicii relaxing on a paradisal Madagascan beach, suggesting he had turned a positive corner after firing his manager and retiring from touring.
Speaking with The Guardian in December 2018, Tsikurishvili admitted this sunny conclusion to the narrative was ‘chillingly false’ in retrospect.
In November 2018, it was announced Avicii: True Stories had qualified for Academy consideration.
Writing on Instagram, Tsikurishvili wrote:
Avicii: True Stories has Qualified for Oscars Consideration.
This documentary hasn’t left a single person emotionally untouched and even if some memories are very painful for me to watch, I’m very proud and thankful that we did it.
Importance of looking out for one another has never been more important than NOW, and I DO hope that we’ve changed SOMETHING to the better in this industry, especially for the younger generation.
You can Avicii: True Stories on Netflix as of December 28 onwards.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues, and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.