Noel and Liam Gallagher debuted their new documentary, Don’t Look Back In Anger, at the Venice Film Festival this past weekend. The film serves as a sentimental and affectionate chronicle of the band’s 2025 comeback tour, though it largely avoids delving into the complexities of the 15-year hiatus that preceded their return.
Reflecting on their reconciliation, Noel Gallagher noted that the minor grievances that once fueled their conflict have dissipated. “The little things that used to annoy us about each other have all gone away,” he said, adding, “It’s not a power struggle any more.”
The documentary opens with a montage detailing the band’s 1990s global success with hits like Wonderwall and Roll With It. It recounts how the brothers’ relationship deteriorated alongside their fame, culminating in a dramatic backstage fight at a 2009 Paris concert. Fan-captured footage shows a promoter announcing the band’s dissolution to a confused crowd, while Scottish singer Amy McDonald, who was present, later described the incident on social media as a massive physical altercation involving a smashed guitar.
Despite this history, the film offers no explanation for the fallout, the reconciliation process, or the impact on their family. It transitions abruptly to tour rehearsals, accompanied by a caption stating the brothers had not spoken for 15 years, implying a seamless healing of old wounds.
During rehearsals, the band, directed by Noel, works on the setlist before Liam’s arrival. Liam initially appears grumpy, complaining about sound-proofing panels near the drums. However, once he begins singing, the atmosphere lightens. Guitarist Bonehead, who is noted for being strategically positioned between the brothers, appears visibly pleased. Liam reveals in a voice-over that he has abstained from alcohol and cigarettes for the tour, emphasizing that the music requires “the utmost respect.”
This newfound professionalism is a central theme of the documentary, which was scripted by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace. The film notably omits any chaotic behavior, such as past incidents involving house-hunting, fights with other bands, or ferry altercations, focusing instead on the group’s successful rehearsals and their public reunion at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
The film excels when documenting the emotional response of fans. Whether in Dublin, Manchester, Tokyo, or New York, the documentary captures the intense connection between the band and their audience. Noel admitted he was surprised by the emotional weight of the tour, noting that the gravity of what the reunion meant to the fans “knocked me back.”
Structurally, however, the film faces challenges. The triumphant Cardiff show occurs early in the runtime, leaving the remainder of the documentary to repeat similar concert footage. While the live audio remains high-quality, the narrative struggles to find new ground. It touches on peripheral stories—such as a priest discussing brotherly forgiveness in Manchester or a survivor of the Manchester Arena Bombing reflecting on the song Don’t Look Back In Anger—but avoids addressing Liam’s past criticism of Noel regarding charity appearances.
Other notable omissions include the controversy surrounding dynamic ticket pricing and the health struggles of guitarist Bonehead. Although Noel praises Bonehead as “the sound of Oasis,” the film never features an interview with the guitarist, nor does it mention the cancer diagnosis that caused him to miss the final leg of the tour. Similarly, other potential story threads, such as Noel’s back injury or the first meeting of the brothers’ children, are introduced but left unexplored.
Ultimately, the film appears to prioritize the music, with cameras seemingly restricted from following the brothers off-stage. While Liam’s humorous commentary on Mick Jagger provides a highlight, the overall tone remains carefully managed. For those who attended the 2025 shows, the film functions as an effective souvenir of the tour’s euphoria. Don’t Look Back In Anger is scheduled for worldwide cinema release on Wednesday, 9 September. The report also notes that so did the brothers’ animosity, until the party came to an abrupt halt backstage at a gig in Paris in 2009, as their fame grew. The report also notes that the band doesn’t exist any more,” he announces, sounding more irritated than sad. The report also notes that instead, we cut to rehearsals for the comeback tour, with a caption informing us the brothers “didn’t speak for 15 years”, and an implication that all the wounds have been miraculously healed. The report also notes that the first song they practice is Columbia – a fan favourite that never made the tour’s setlist – but there’s a tension in the room, tantalisingly. The report also notes that the band, under Noel’s instruction, is piecing together the setlist. The report also notes that they’re already giving me the hump,” he huffs. The report also notes that still in the middle of a song, Liam waves goodbye and casually strolls out of the rehearsal space, a couple of hours later.
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