The documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil starts like This Is Spinal Tap, with a musician standing before a fanatical audience in Japan, using a dildo as a slide for his guitar. It quickly becomes so surreal a narrative as to suggest a Sid Finch-type hoax. And it ends in a touching, triumphant manner that’ll put a knot in your throat.

The obscure Canadian metal band at the heart of the film will perform after a 9:45 p.m. screening of the film tonight at the Angelika Film Center, 510 Texas. The band will sell shirts and CDs and sign autographs following its performance. More information and tickets are available at www.angelikafilmcenter.com.