part of Rhys’s attitude but that doesn’t mean leaving
Wales behind. “One of the things I enjoyed most about
the tour was explaining John Evans’ life and Wales to
people who knew next to nothing about either.”
When asked whether he sees his role as a sort of
spokesman for Welsh culture he vehemently denies
it, again underlining his punk credentials, “I don’t
see myself as a spokesman for anything or anyone,
apart from myself.” It strikes me that perhaps this is
one reason he is so confident and creative, steering
away from being bogged down by some political
manifesto.
Like Evans himself, Rhys is someone
whose eyes are open to the richness
of the world around him, and he’s
taking on board the best of other
cultures as well as keeping
his own. It’s one of the
aspects that make the film
so watchable. Rhys doesn’t
judge but rather lets people
speak for themselves,
revealing their own stories
around the central thread
of Evans’s tale.
The film is also testament
to Rhys’ wry humour. At
one point a couple at one of
the concerts are uncertain
whether Rhys is spinning
a comedic yarn, or whether
there’s some sincerity in
his explanation of Evans’
remarkable life. This may be partly
down to the metre-tall felt doll of
John Evans that accompanies Rhys
on tour and the dry delivery of his
PowerPoint presentation.
Perhaps the most memorable moment
in the film is Rhys’s visit to the Mandan
people, a Native American tribe. They
were once, it seems, at the very heart
of the American nation. People came
from all over the world to trade with
them at one point in their history,
now only one fluent speaker of their
language remains.
“It was a profound experience,” admits Rhys.
“There was a realisation of what it was like to lose a
language, to lose a culture.” It was such a profound
experience because of the parallels with Wales’
language and culture: “We have a golden opportunity
in Wales to save the language, yet people don’t take
it seriously, there are no policies or plans in place. If
we don’t take this opportunity, the same thing could
happen to the Welsh language.”
The whole project seems to be based on these
elements: Wales, the world and the stories of
individuals who see beyond their own boundaries.
During the film Rhys wears the head of a wolf:
“It was because I was going to be turning into a
werewolf during the film but we thought in the end
that it was a tangent too far for audiences.” The
interest in these extroverted individuals wasn’t
too far away though, “The headgear was originally
inspired by William Price from Llantrisant,” he
adds. Price was a true radical. A 19th century Welsh
physician who advocated the abolition of marriage
was a Chartist, a Druid and wore a wolf’s head.
Rhys sings on the title track of the album, “Your
visions carry me to a new world.” It’s the vision
of John Evans that is the inspiration for the project
but this is also what Rhys has been doing through
his music since the start of his career. He’s been
breaking new frontiers, opening eyes to what lies
beyond our own boundaries. In that way, he too is a
radical visionary – with or without a wolf hat.
The American Interior film will be in
cinemas from Fri 9 May, the album will be
released on Mon 5 May, the book released
on Thurs 8 May and the app on Sun 4 May.
Tour dates: Acapela Studio, Pentyrch,
Cardiff, Fri 2 May. Tickets: £15.
Info: www.acapela.co.uk
River’s Edge, Cardigan, Sat 3 May, Tickets:
£15. Info: www.riversedgecardigan.co.uk /
Hay-on-Wye Festival, Powys, Mon 26 May.
Info: see page 32
Dinefwr Literature Festival, Fri 20 June.
Info: see page 18
Info: www.american-interior.com
AMERICAN INTERIOR ****
Dir: Dylan Goch (15, 89 mins)
Gruff Rhys, Super Furry Animal front man and now documentary maker, offers an
engrossing idiosyncratic road movie about a long lost relative that is unlike anything
you will have seen before. Blending low-key concert, felt puppets and PowerPoint
presentations with a potted history of early America and its various tribes, this
offbeat odyssey follows Rhys as he traces the story of his ancestor John Evans.
Evans had left Wales in 1792 to search for a mythical Welsh tribe in the American
heartland, alas his search led to failure but he accomplished much upon the way.
Rhys is an affable explorer sharing his story as he travels and creating songs as he
moves from North Wales to Baltimore, the Northwest Passage and finally to New
Orleans. An affinity between Wales and the Native Americans is keenly felt and
cultural points are made amidst songs, ice fishing, animation, discussions about
‘popty pings’ and numerous engaging eccentrics. Shot in wondrous monochrome
with occasional splashes of colour by Ryan Owen Eddleston this is a shaggy dog tale
with an epic vista that gently amuses, entertains and informs.
Opens May 9
BUZZ 11