Joy of Joys

This exuberant yet sobering documentary from Oscar-winning director Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest, NYFF61) goes behind the scenes at Abbey Road Studios to capture the recording of the Mercury Prize-nominated HELP(2), a 2026 charity album from War Child Records, which aids children in conflict zones around the world. To make the film, Glazer enlisted some crucial help: young schoolkids from London were equipped with their own digital cameras and encouraged to shoot the studio recordings any way they wanted. Their curiosity and creativity are paralleled in footage taken by high-spirited children in war-torn parts of the globe—Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen—whom Glazer also supplied with cameras. The resulting film, which Glazer and regular music collaborator Mica Levi have dubbed “by children, for children,” serves as a testament to youthful openness and wonder amidst the evils of the adult world. Contributing artists from the album featured in the film include Damon Albarn, Olivia Rodrigo, Cameron Winter, Arctic Monkeys, Beth Gibbons, Fontaines D.C., and Jarvis Cocker.