Back on the big screen: Bruce, Stevie, AND the E Street Band! (Joe Amodei's report from TIFF 2026)
September 15, 2026
With all of the excitement surrounding the release of the Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour (Philadelphia Freedom Cut) film (Part 1,) I am excited to inform you, my fellow Springsteen fans, that there’s more coming. It’s over-the-moon kind of stuff, and something that my fellow movie-lovers can look forward to.
Last week, while attending The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF,) I walked into a screening of the new Nanni Moretti film It Will Happen Tonight (Succeederà Questa Notte.) Moretti is one of my favorite Italian filmmakers, who has brought such memorable films as The Son's Room and Dear Diary to the silver screen. His latest film is a romantic romp that tells the story of a group of young people trying to find true love. The story spans multiple generations, following these folks through the ups and downs of falling in and out of love. But it was a side-story in the film that put a surprising smile on my face.
Louis Garrel stars as Matteo, a character drawn from Moretti himself. His ailing father, played by legendary European actor Hippolyte Girardot, has a lifelong dream to see Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in concert. Because his health is failing him, Matteo decides to go for it and purchases tickets to one of the upcoming San Sebastian shows. Matteo and his father face some minor difficulties getting to San Sebastian, and then getting into the stadium, but once they arrive, we are taken into the pit to enjoy full-blown performances of "Death to My Hometown," "Because the Night," and a rousing version of "Hungry Heart." (Hungry Heart is also the title of the short-stories collection by Israeli writer Eshkol Nevo on which Moretti's film is based.) How Moretti gained access to film a Springsteen concert live is something I do not know, but the unexpected thrill of it all was enough for me.
It Will Happen Tonight isn’t at the top of Moretti’s work, but still has enough going for it to make a worthwhile viewing experience. As of this weekend, the film did not have distribution lined up for the U.S., so it is not yet known when/how U.S. fans will get to see the film here.
A few days later, I attended a TIFF screening of a new documentary that, if it didn’t have Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Van Zandt in it, the film just wouldn’t be right. Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been is the ultimate bio of the famous singer who has lightened up our lives for decades. It is filled with stories told by friends like Dionne Warwick and Nancy Sinatra, along with Lou Adler, David Letterman, Paul Shaffer, and, of course, Bruce and Stevie. What’s so amazing about the picture is just how much screen time they graciously give, both in interviews and in concert footage.
This is a great doc with a story as inspirational as they come, and one to seek out when it comes our way. Don't miss it!
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Joe Amodei is a veteran film producer and distributor. He is the founder and President/CEO of Virgil Films. His first film as a director, Cold War in Philly: The Untold Story Behind Hockey's Greatest Upset, was released recently. Click here for more information.
