Talihina Sky is the first documentary of its kind for Kings of Leon. It is the first time the band have allowed the cameras to film them in their most raw and honest form - drinking, taking drugs, with their family/lovers - and then show it worldwide. Not only this but they allowed the producers to delve deep into their past and show fans and critics alike what the past twenty-plus years have been like for the devoutly religious Followill family. The documentary goes back to Talihina, Oklahoma in South America - where Nathan, Caleb, Matthew and Jared were born and raised together.
The documentary is based around a reunion in Talihina where they are granted time off from their hectic band lifestyle to see family and friends back home (FYI, some very interesting characters in these here parts). This reunion allows us the opportunity to see the boys' friends and family be interviewed honestly about the boys’ past, what they were like as children and what they are now like as adults. Aside from this the producers have used candid footage - old and new - allowing us to see the band as the most genuine versions of themselves.
The whole documentary itself is largely based on and referent to religion - their Dad Ivan was a Pentecostal Church preacher and Mum Betty-Ann, a devout follower - and how this has always played a large part in their lives as children and now, as grown men. Anyone who knows of Kings of Leon knows that the boys grew up in a devout household, where they were forbidden to listen to "Devi's music" (aka Rock and Roll). So the chance to see them speak openly about it is not one to be missed.
As the older two of the foursome, Caleb and Nathan decided to form a rock band and took younger brother Jared and younger cousin, Matthew on board as bass and lead guitar players, respectively. The boys' parents were,, of course, unhappy about this initially and made it no secret that they thought the boys were "selling their soul to the devil" by indulging in a hedonistic lifestyle and playing rock music.
Throughout the documentary, and particularly in the final scene, it seems that Caleb, more so than the others, is in turmoil over his decision to turn his back on the Pentecostal church and decide instead that "rock'n'roll was his religion" (as he once declared in a 2010 interview). The final scene shows Caleb in a late-night candid interview, clutching a bottle of Jameson and speaking openly about his feelings of confusion on whether he should, like his father, be a preacher. He also speaks here of his guilt to turn his back on the church and pursue his dream. It's an extremely honest interview where he speaks openly about the self-indulgent lifestyle the boys have enjoyed and his reasons for eventually turning his back on the church (They found out a young age their Father was an alcoholic - of course forbidden for a preacher).
The most humbling thing about this documentary is how honest and open it is. It allows the world to see into their lives and speak honestly about their poor and strict upbringing. There's also something very refreshing and grounding about watching a stadium sell out, multi-platinum selling, worldwide famous band go back to their roots, have no heirs or graces about them for a week and live life as normally as they knew how to back in Talihina.
A definite must see for any fan.
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