Documentary Review: Life In One Chord

Breathtaking, beautiful and utterly brilliant – Life in One Chord gives us a rare and intimate look into the life and times of NZ musical icon Shayne P. Carter. The hour-thirty film, directed by Margaret Gordon and narrated by Carol Hirschfeld is one I had been excited about since first seeing the trailer. It follows Shayne and gives a rare look into the life of the at-times almost mysterious man.

It starts by looking at his connection with Dunedin and his journey into music – from rocking school hall shows with his first band Bored Games, where the principal was far from approving, through to the DoubleHappys, Straitjacket Fits and beyond. Shayne talks about his upbringing: his mother being a hard lady, and his dad, a Māori man who had lost connection with his whakapapa. This intergenerational challenge also faced Shayne, with him acknowledging he never really felt like he belonged. He knew he was Māori, but he didn’t know what that meant. He didn’t understand the tikanga, struggled with pronunciation, and schooling at the time didn’t give much space to Māori culture.

This disconnection must have been a big influence in Shayne’s career – in many senses, his music has never really fit neatly into any category. It’s always been a bit obscure, different, but consistently exciting, well-crafted and brilliant.

A few standout moments in the documentary for me were Chris Knox’s rare cameo – not only another icon from the electric 80’s Dunedin scene but a legend in the Aotearoa music world. Shayne talks about how he became a bit of a carer for Knox after his 2009 stroke and shows off some of Knox’s incredible art, which he painted with his weaker hand.

Another powerful moment was Shayne talking about Wayne Elsey’s tragic death and how it deeply affected him and the band. For me, it brought even more meaning to the iconic track Randolph’s Going Home, a nickname Carter had once given his dear friend Wayne.

For fans of the iconic 80’s Dunedin scene – or fans of music in general – this documentary is for you. It gives a raw, unfiltered and real glimpse into life in that period and how these bands managed to create such a unique sound. Throughout this documentary Shayne doesn’t miss a beat – he is funny, articulate, and intensely reflective. Another highlight for me is Shayne walking through Dunedin, giving a tour of his town: the local shops, his high school, even his childhood home. It’s access to Shayne like we’ve never seen before.

This is a documentary that is truly worth a watch. I have to applaud the work of Margaret Gordon – she beautifully portrays Shayne’s story and pays respect to a man who often feels complex and mysterious. She delves into the archives and brings out unbelievable footage, while also managing to make this masterpiece feel cinematic and masterful. The addition of Carol Hirschfeld as narrator was also a master stroke and made the film a pleasure to listen to.

This has been one of my favourite documentary releases of 2025, and I would recommend anyone who can to get out and see it!