Junun

Junun
Directed by	Paul Thomas Anderson
Music by	Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood and the Rajasthan Express
Edited by	Andy Jurgensen
Release dates	October 8, 2015 (2015-10-08) (New York Film Festival) October 8, 2015 (2015-10-08) (Streaming) ((Streaming))
Running time	54 minutes

Junun is a 2015 documentary film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It documents the making of an album of the same name in Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India, by the Israeli composer Shye Ben Tzur, English composer and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, Indian ensemble the Rajasthan Express, and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. Greenwood previously composed soundtracks for several Anderson films.

Junun premièred at the 2015 New York Film Festival and was released on the MUBI film streaming service on October 9 and on iTunes on November 20, 2015. It received generally favorable reviews.

Production

Production on the film was secretive and was only announced two months prior to the film's release. It was filmed at the Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India. Anderson used Nigel Godrich's drone to capture aerial footage of the fort.

Release

Junun premiered at the New York Film Festival. It was released on video on demand through the MUBI film streaming service on October 9, 2015 and on iTunes on November 20.

Reception

Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan, where Junun was filmed

Junun has received generally favorable reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a 100% approval rating based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9 out of 10. On Metacritic, the film currently holds a rating of 78 out of 100 based on 6 reviews.

Indiewire gave Junun a grade of B+ and wrote that it "offers no clear-eyed statement on its subject, but develops an enveloping internal logic about the thrill of artistic innovation." Variety wrote that "Anderson’s aesthetics unobtrusively capture the magic of Greenwood and company’s global partnership. It’s a reverent tribute, and one that articulates its underlying themes in subtle, piercing snapshots." The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a transporting film that places us right there in the room, living and breathing a singular artistic experience. Trying to remain still in your seat is futile."

The AV Club gave the film a grade of B and wrote: "Junun may be a minor work from a major director, but it provides plenty of bounce in the step and candy for the ears. It’s hard to ask much more of a music movie." The Guardian gave the film 3 out of 5, writing: "Given how fruitful and fascinating the collaboration has been between Anderson and Greenwood ... this returned favour is a little disappointing. Anderson has brought much less personality and invention to this project than Greenwood gave to [Anderson's] movies."