Synopsis

Strange Parallel is a surreal documentary portrait of Elliott Smith, filmed around the period of his 1998 album XO. Smith appears in interviews, recording sessions, live performances, and observational footage from New York City and Portland, Oregon. Conventional documentary material is interrupted by comic dream sequences in which he encounters a robotic hand, a military recruiter, and Satan. The film presents Smith as both a private songwriter and an unexpectedly funny, elusive personality who resists easy interpretation.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was made as promotional material around the release of XO rather than as a conventional commercial music video.

• Smith reportedly did not want a straightforward documentary. The film's surreal episodes were developed from a recurring dream in which other people encouraged him to replace his guitar-playing hand with a mechanical one.

• Strange Parallel includes footage of Smith recording the then-unreleased song "Brand New Game."

• The film features appearances and interviews involving people from Smith's musical and creative circle, including Larry Crane, Gus Van Sant, and members of Quasi.

• Its title comes from a phrase used by an acquaintance who described feeling a "strange parallel" with Smith.

• The soundtrack draws from several Smith recordings and performances, including "Independence Day" and "Waltz #2 (XO)," alongside covers and other material.

• Although the film runs roughly half an hour, it has circulated primarily through fan copies and online uploads rather than through a standard commercial release.