Bruce McDonald’s This Movie Is Broken could not have a more fitting name.

The half concert film, half fictional rock romance is a sometimes jarring, often disjointed look at youth, rock n’ roll, sex, love and relationships (in that order), recreational drugs and binge drinking.

The film centers around last July’s free Broken Social Scene show in Toronto, which was moved from Toronto Island to Harbourfront Centre due to possible noise interference stemming from the Molson Indy that was being held at the time across the island.

It’s July 2009 and the city is one giant boiling cesspool, having already endured two weeks of a month-long garbage strike.

Bruno (Greg Calderone) has been in love with Caroline (Georgina Reilly) since they were toddlers. The two finally hook up when Caroline is back in town from Paris, where she is doing her graduate studies in anthropology.

The morning after their night of passion, Bruno’s friend Blake claims that Bruno can get backstage passes to the show in an effort to help his buddy impress Caroline before she leaves for Paris.

The film jumps back and forth between the couple hanging out at Toronto hotspots (Aunties and Uncles, The Drake Hotel, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Chinatown) and footage from the already legendary Harbourfront show, which featured all members of BSS including Feist, Amy Milan, Emily Haines and Jason Collett.

This Movie Is Broken is quite possibly the perfect companion piece to the music of Broken Social Scene; that is, it’s one great big beautiful mess. The film is at its strongest when it’s at its most flawed and vulnerable moments.

Not to mention, the film has a surprise twist near the end that will probably be more of a mind-fuck than The Sixth Sense, The Usual Suspects and Seven combined.

This Movie Is Broken ultimately captures the energy, excitement and emotional connection of the concert-going experience, and in particular, sharing live music with a significant other.

The film opens in limited theatres in Toronto and Vancouver on June 25th.

The constantly rotating lineup of Broken Social Scene went from having no girls to two girls (Feist and Emily Haines), to three girls (Feist, Emily Haines, Amy Milan), and then anywhere from one to three.

But when Feist, Emily Haines and Amy Milan went on to become bonafied indie superstars in their own right and could no longer fulfill their BSS touring duties, one girl step in as a pinch hitter of sorts to represent for the ladies.

Crowds at BSS shows seemed less than thrilled to see an unfamiliar face, or more accurately, any female member who wasn’t Leslie, Emily, or Amy. But Calgary’s Lisa Lobsinger, who also heads up the wonderful Reverie Sound Revue, would eventually win over fans as it became increasingly evident that she was no one’s understudy. 

Lobsinger’s understated, yet gorgeous voice shines on songs like “Antique Bull” off Broken Social Scene Presents… Brendan Canning, and “All to All” from the band’s official fourth release, Forgiveness Rock Record, which is out in stores today.