According to screenwriter Steven Knight, who worked closely on the project, the reconciliation between the notoriously estranged siblings was largely facilitated by their children.
Behind the Scenes of the Oasis Reunion
According to Steven Knight, creator of the television series Peaky Blinders, Liam Gallagher arrived at their first face-to-face meeting in 15 years with characteristic bluntness during a tense rehearsal prior to the band’s “Live ’25” tour. As Knight recounted to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Liam walked in demanding to know if everyone was ready before the group launched straight into playing. Knight noted that as working-class English men, the brothers did not display overt emotion or shake hands.
The film, titled Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger, chronicles how the Manchester-born brothers gradually moved past a feud that began following a backstage altercation in Paris in 2009. According to Knight, the thawing of tensions accelerated once the brothers’ children met and became friends, providing a vital bridge between the two musicians.
Venice Film Festival Premiere and Fan Response
Fans gathered on the Lido of Venice from early Saturday morning ahead of the premiere, cheering as the Gallagher brothers waved from a boat upon arriving in the Italian city. The documentary was directed by British music documentarians Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, who shadowed the band across twelve concerts spanning three continents.
Will Lovelace told AFP that the directing duo initially felt intimidated by the assignment, given the global spotlight and the volatile history of the two brothers. The premiere, alongside the presence of British actor Robert Pattinson at the festival for his film Primetime, brought significant attention to a Venice lineup largely bypassed by major Hollywood studios.
The Rise of Concert Documentaries
Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger follows a growing industry trend of highly controlled cinematic tour films designed for fans unable to secure concert tickets. Taylor Swift’s 2023 concert film generated approximately $260 million globally, while Beyoncé released a tour film the same year that grossed $44 million.
“I think it’s really good, and the reason why someone agrees to finance a project like this is because they see that there is a precedent,” Steven Knight stated to AFP regarding the commercial viability of such features. Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger is scheduled for a worldwide release on September 9.