Throughout the Sundance Film Festival’s history, many iconic film scores have originated. Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright said it best: “A truly great song…with a truly great film becomes that much more valuable and that much more powerful,” he remarked at the premiere of the genre-bending documentary Broken English, which premiered on Jan. 25. From the percussive score of Whiplash to the whimsical original soundtrack for Little Miss Sunshine, music has shaped the sounds and feelings of the festival.
Ian Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s portrait of Marianne Faithfull’s life is a love letter to musicians everywhere. Enhancing the rich sonic tapestry of the film are performances from Courtney Love and Suki Waterhouse. This isn’t your standard documentary– Faithfull sadly passed away while the film was still in production. This makes Tilda Swinton’s role as a researcher in the fictitious “Ministry of Not Forgetting” all the more poignant. “My first exposure to Marianne Faithfull was watching ‘Thelma and Louise’ in the theater as a kid,” said singer Nora Jones. “I was obsessed with that soundtrack.”
The Best Summer is a Sundance 2026 Must-See
For die-hard 90’s music fans, Tamra Davis’ debut film The Best Summer is a must-see. Fans will immediately recognize the likes of The Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters and Sonic Youth. Bassist Kim Gordon said this film will make viewers jealous they didn’t experience the music of the era. It even shows that the personalities of some of the most famous stars of the 90s are larger than life–perhaps most exemplified by Kathleen Hanna, lead singer of the rock band “Bikini Kill”.
“Are those my freckles? Are those my pores? What’s going on?” said Hanna at the premiere. In true Hanna fashion, she doesn’t take herself too seriously– she’s poking fun at her appearance in a 1995 shot of her on an Australian beach.
Outside dark theaters, in the cold of a Park City afternoon, “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens drifted through the air from a “Little Miss Sunshine”-themed pop-up. Although a passing moment for those running to various events, it’s in this full circle moment that the impact of music throughout the festival’s history can be felt in its entirety.
This story is jointly published by Salt Lake magazine and non-profit Amplify Utah to elevate perspectives in local media through student and emerging journalism.
