Theory of Obscurity: A Film about The Residents

The Residents are probably the most famous anonymous rock stars in history, going from an underground San Francisco band to darlings of the music video era. Always masked, they usually perform and appear wearing tuxedos with top hats and large eyeballs for heads. By keeping their identities obscure, they’ve been able to focus on their music, create an air of mystery, and follow their unpredictable and delightfully bizarre muses. This absorbing documentary doesn’t lift the veil on the masked members’ identities, but it does provide the most comprehensive look at the band yet, including interviews with some of its ardent fans: The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, magician Penn Jillette, artist Gary Panter, MoMA curator Barbara London, and such musicians as Jerry Harrison (the Talking Heads) and Les Claypool (Primus). (87 mins., DCP)