Rock & roll can be absurd. Thousands upon thousands will gather, stand around for hours on end in sun, rain, cold, or in dank cement rooms. They will clap, chant, and devote massive adoration to a prophet on a platform who will feed on that energy and turn it into entertainment for the gathered.

Somewhere deep down, Ola Salo knows this is true…but it doesn’t stop him from playing his part as prophet with bravado. But when the lights come up and the cheering fades, Ola has time to think about what it all means, and that introspection is the focus of OLA SVENSSON SUPERSTAR.

The documentary focuses on Salo, who is the lead singer of Swedish rock band The Ark. In 2008 the band took a planned break from recording and touring, and Salo took the opportunity to pursue other creative avenues – namely a Swedish production of Jesus Christ Superstar where he played the saviour. For a rock god, that shouldn’t be much of a stretch, right?

Salo spends much of the film on a journey of self-discovery, reflecting on his role as an idol and how that has defined him as a human being. He lets us see not only the mask he wears when he performs, but how much trouble he’s having keeping that disguise in place. He sums up celebrity as offering up a piece of one’s self, noting that “If you only want to be loved for being part of yourself, it’s the perfect relationship.”

His journey with Jesus Christ Superstar guides him through this year of self-realization, and gives him a new outlet for his passion, his philosophy, and his wry humour.

OLA SVENSSON SUPERSTAR could have easily become another mopey celebrity complaining about the price of fame. But Salo never comes close to that sort of self-pity. He’s not in it to make woe-is-me statements; he’s here to ask why-me questions? They’re questions that are both peaceful and sweet…and watching him search for the answers in this film is a beautiful journey.

OLA SVENSSON SUPERSTAR plays tomorrow – 9:45pm at The Lightbox, again on Friday May 6th – 7:30pm on The London Drafthouse Rooftop, and once more on Saturday May 7th – 4pm at The ROM.