The Accidental Rock Star is a music-documentary telling the story of the iconic rock band, Kaizers Orchestra, through band member Helge Risa – the “man with the gas mask.” Drawing inspiration from Kaisers Orchestra’s own aesthetic, this film blurs the boundary between imagination and reality. We follow Helge as he is about to perform at the Oslo opera house. On his way to the stage, Helge is separated from the band and finds himself in Kaizers’ fictional universe. He travels through the albums from the band’s past – leading us to different chapters of documentary material. On this journey, we get a glimpse of music history - from Kaizers’ humble beginning in a practice room at teachers’ training college to sold out concerts 12 years later. Helge never dreamed of being a rock star, nor did he really like rock music, but he was drawn into the Kaizers’ magical world by the band’s founders: Janove Ottesen and Geir Zahl. They lured Helge away from his studies since he was the only one they knew who could play the harmonium and accordion. In The Accidental Rock Star, Helge is trapped in a universe he helped to create – much like he accidentally became a part of a legendary band. Perhaps by going through the band’s history he will begin to appreciate his role in creating magic? But what will happen to Helge now that the founders of the band suddenly say that it’s over, that they need a break? How far can someone remove themself from their core before they lose themself? The film plays with the boundary between fiction and reality, and real and assumed identities.
