Instrument
Synopsis
The band Fugazi is documented over a period of more than ten years (1987-1998) through performance footage and interviews with the band and their fans. Director Jem Cohen's relationship with band member Ian MacKaye extends back to the 1970s when the two met in high school in Washington, D.C.. The film takes its title from the Fugazi song of the same name, from their 1993 album, In on the Kill Taker. Editing of the film was done by both Cohen and the members of the band over the course of five years. It was shot from 1987 through 1998 on super 8, 16mm and video and is composed mainly of footage of concerts, interviews with the band members, practices, tours and time spent in the studio recording their 1995 album, Red Medicine. The film also includes portraits of fans as well as interviews with them at various Fugazi shows around the United States throughout the years.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Instrument - Jem Cohen & Fugazi
Type: Trailer • Published 2017-09-05
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Release History & Theatrical Window
IN-EDIT Barcelona International Music Documentary Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
June 18, 1999
Wide Cinema Exhibition
March 29, 1999
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jem Cohen
- Original Score
- Brendan Canty, Joe Lally, Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto
- Original Title
- Instrument
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Production Studios
- Dischord
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jem Cohen
Brendan Canty, Joe Lally, Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto
Jem Cohen
Jem Cohen
Department Leadership Roster
Jem Cohen
Director
Brendan Canty
Original Music Composer
Joe Lally
Original Music Composer
Ian MacKaye
Original Music Composer
Guy Picciotto
Original Music Composer
Jem Cohen
Director of Photography
Jem Cohen
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Instrument.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Instrument.
Letterboxd's Top 250 Documentary Films
Letterboxd's official Top 250 documentary feature films, ranked by average member rating. Letterboxd 官方 Top 250 最佳纪录长片榜单： 根据平台用户的平均评分进行排序的纪录长片精选榜单。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-19 07:35:45 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Instrument
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Instrument about?
The band Fugazi is documented over a period of more than ten years (1987-1998) through performance footage and interviews with the band and their fans. Director Jem Cohen's relationship with band member Ian MacKaye extends back to the 1970s when the two met in high school in Washington, D.C.. The film takes its title from the Fugazi song of the same name, from their 1993 album, In on the Kill Taker. Editing of the film was done by both Cohen and the members of the band over the course of five years. It was shot from 1987 through 1998 on super 8, 16mm and video and is composed mainly of footage of concerts, interviews with the band members, practices, tours and time spent in the studio recording their 1995 album, Red Medicine. The film also includes portraits of fans as well as interviews with them at various Fugazi shows around the United States throughout the years.
Who directed Instrument?
Instrument was directed by Jem Cohen.
Who stars in Instrument?
The principal cast of Instrument includes Ian MacKaye, Brendan Canty, Joe Lally, Guy Picciotto.
When was Instrument released and how long is it?
Instrument was released in 1999 with a total runtime of 1h 55m.
Who composed the musical score for Instrument?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Instrument was composed by Brendan Canty, Joe Lally, Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Instrument?
Instrument holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).