To Stay Alive: A Method (2016)

In this documentary, Iggy Pop reads and recites Michel Houellebecq’s manifesto, TO STAY ALIVE – a method. The documentary features real people from Houellebecq’s life; the text is based on their life stories. Iggy is confronted with himself in the process of reading: Houellebecq’s book reflects his own laborious start as a person and as an artist. How can it be that this ‘advice to a young poet’ applies so strongly to him too? His personal recitation of the text is a journey of discovery to answer that question. In the end, Iggy meets Michel Houellebecq as one of the characters in the book. The two celebrities meet at the house of Houellebecq’s late grandparents, talk about each other’s work and drive, and express their mutual admiration. Throughout the film, reveries, interviews and dialogues alternate with Iggy often directly addressing the viewers, using arguments from Houellebecq’s texts. It’s an appeal to all of us to break our chains and go for it.