Are we living in another golden age of concert cinema? From Beyoncé to Taylor Swift, BLACKPINK to aespa, the biggest names have been pulling out all the cinematic stops to both bring their world tours to even more fans, and show that they can hold their own on the silver screen. In a period where there are worries that the box office is declining, concert films are still able to bring people in droves.
Fitting then, that SEVENTEEN, the 13-member boygroup that is one of the biggest in the world – they are the second best-selling artist in the world behind only Taylor Swift on IFPI’s ‘Global Recording Artists 2023’ chart – should also bring their performances to cinemas worldwide.
Filmed during the group’s concert at the Seoul World Cup Stadium earlier this year, the film is the condensation of a show that lasted over three and a half hours, taking it down to just under two hours for cinema-goers. Therefore, there are very few behind-the-scenes moments in the movie, bar small segments at the beginning, in-between certain sections of the concert, and a charming little section right before the encore that was clearly shot with the film specifically in mind.
The other 90% of the film was a thrilling non-stop ride through some of SEVENTEEN’s biggest hits and most impressive stages. Utilising a two stage set-up alongside moving stage sections, both dynamic and static camera shots of the venue as the group performed gave audiences a full sense of the immersive vision the group had for the show where they were able to get closer to all the fans in attendance, irrespective of where they sat.
A boon of having such a large group is the ability to push further regarding group formations and shapes for performances, and SEVENTEEN has long since been well-known for using this to their advantage. From the impressive opening that saw the members entering via suspended light-up boxes from the ceiling, to their high-octane performance of one of their biggest hits, “HOT”, there was no shortage of energy and spectacle to marvel at.
Whilst the majority of the concert was cut down, with specific performances carefully selected to keep the film to a reasonable runtime, the encore remained intact. Cinemagoers were able to experience the fun run of “Ima -Ashita Sekai ga Owatte mo-“, “Run to You”, “Together”, “Headliner” and a mammoth version of their classic “AJU NICE”, just as fans present in Seoul would have enjoyed.
By including the full encore (the section where any group can most let go, and tailor as they wish to connect with the fans in attendance), perhaps this most fittingly encapsulates how and why SEVENTEEN have generated such a huge fanbase over the years. Whilst it is always impressive to see their precise and detailed performances, there is an element of heart and connection to their listeners that most who love them would say is undeniable.
In fact, one of the longest behind-the-scenes sections instead focused on the fans as they expressed what they liked the group. Highlights included a husband that mentioned his wife seemed much happier since becoming a fan of SEVENTEEN (including a charming shot where he danced along with her), as well as fans that had clearly travelled from places outside of the Korea just to see the group perform.
In this sense, ‘SEVENTEEN TOUR ‘FOLLOW’ AGAIN TO SEOUL’ seems to hit two vital spots: it is, firstly, a fantastic movie advertising how and why the group have the great reputation they do, and why we should all gear up ready to fight for tickets whenever they announce another tour or live performance. Even those going into the cinema unfamiliar with the group should come away with such enjoyment from their stages. Yet secondly, it is very much also a love letter to fans around the world, especially those unable to see the group in person.
For fans of SEVENTEEN (CARATs), they will of course enjoy the movie: the specially hand-written messages at the end will spark much joy for all who go. But if the singing, clapping, dancing and cheering in the movie theatre itself is a judge of anything, even newcomers to the world of SEVENTEEN are sure to have a great time.
More information and tickets to SEVENTEEN TOUR ‘FOLLOW’ AGAIN TO CINEMAS can be found here. SEVENTEEN is on Instagram, Twitter and all major streaming platforms.
