The Art of Forgiveness
By Jake Mosca
After 15 years without contact, brothers and frontmen of the band Oasis, Liam and Noel Gallagher, finally got back on stage in the summer of 2025. The tour was the biggest and most important move in the band’s history, and their new documentary Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger gives an exclusive view of the reunion tour and how the reunion united fans around the world alongside the brothers’ relationship. The documentary includes a combination of exclusive rehearsal scenes, concert footage and interviews with fans from all around the world.
One of the main themes that the documentary explores is the importance of forgiveness. In the beginning stages of the film, a quote from Noel is shown where he says “I was born with one fatal flaw in my character, which is I will not forgive people.” With this flaw of his and the feuds that Liam and Noel had, it shows how special it was to see them back on stage together. Additionally, In the later parts of the movie, a scene from a sermon from Father Luke Bradberry is shown where he says “Forgiveness is hard. It costs us something”. The sermon and the quote show how the documentary is about more than a reunion tour, but about the process of forgiveness and the cost of letting go of old drama.
The documentary also goes into the band’s importance to their fans. Throughout the movie, there were scenes of interviews with fans from all over the world where they showed how much the band means to them and how important it was that they got back together. In an interview with Haenyeo, a fan from South Korea, she says “Oasis falls down with you and then, from the ground they lift you back up”. Haenyeo said that before she found Oasis, she was struggling through depression but the band’s style and songs helped her find herself again. In an interview with a different fan, a girl who survived the horrible 2017 Manchester Arena attack explores her trauma. She explains how as the song played at a memorial for all the survivors and everyone sang along, it symbolized how much the band and song means to the city of Manchester.
Many IHS community members have special stories and feelings towards Oasis. Sophomore Sami Walker said “I missed the concert last year and I’m excited to hopefully go this year. When wonderwall was played after every game for England in the world cup it became a symbol of our journey through bad or good in the world cup”. From Luton, England, Sami demonstrates what Oasis meant to them during the World Cup this summer. Drama teacher Chad Beckim said “For many people nostalgia is a drug. Oasis came out and said that they were going to be bigger than the Beatles and a lot of people loved them”.
Shortly after the documentary was released, the band set up a drone show to go over the legendary Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City. Unexpectedly, the drones read the date 14.09.26 and on that date, the Mancunian band announced a 38 show tour. The tour includes an 11 night stay at the Etihad stadium, gigs in Munich, London, Glasgow, Slane Castle, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, Boston, Las Vegas and a long awaited return to the legendary Knebworth park 30 years after their legendary shows.
Overall, the documentary captures all the excitement and feelings about Oasis’ return. The combination of fan interviews and live performances makes it an amazing watch for Oasis fans.
