It’s not hyperbole to say that this is the best possible documentary that could have ever been made about the Magnetic Fields. For the notoriously reclusive Stephin Merritt to even be in a documentary that gives such access to the process of his songwriting, recording, and touring would be an achievement in and of itself. Thankfully, for fans of the band, filmmakers Kerthy Fix and Gail O’Hara have crafted a film that does so much more than that. In addition to beautiful performances, we get the history of the Magnetic Fields, from early footage of their first shows, through the success of 69 Love Songs, and all the way up to the band’s transitional period after the release of Distortion. This documentary is far more than just a “glimpse of the recluse at work.” It’s a wonderfully captivating film about one of America’s greatest living songwriters.  SP