Gail

The titular character of Michael Maxxis’ documentary is a New York City subway station agent from the Bronx who, in her free time, is a dedicated superfan of the Canadian band Our Lady Peace.

A follower of the group since 1995, Gail is readying herself for their winter cross-country tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of making music. To every New Yorker she encounters during her preparation, which includes doctor and dental appointments and buying new shoes, she becomes an unofficial ambassador for both Canada and Our Lady Peace.

The doc tracks Gail as she journeys from Saskatoon VIP meet-and-greets with the quartet — lead singer Raine Maida, bassist Duncan Coutts, guitarist Steve Mazur, and drummer Jason Pierce, who rose to prominence during the late-1990s with songs like “Superman is Dead” and “Clumsy” — to their final Canadian tour stop in Halifax. Along the way, she wears her blind devotion like a badge of honour, which can sometimes lead to awkward exchanges.

Although this is an unconventional music doc, music is a key component. With an original score by Lesley Barber (Bonjour Tristesse, TIFF ’24) and orchestral arrangements by Eric Rosse (who produced Tori Amos’ groundbreaking album Little Earthquakes), music amplifies the dynamic soundscape of Gail’s Our Lady Peace experience.

A raw and resolute look at how music can impact one person, Gail is executive produced by Jason Reitman and Jason Blumenfeld (Saturday Night, TIFF ’24) and Our Lady Peace.

KELLY BOUTSALIS