Just saw this charming movie tonight at the Port Townsend Film Festival. This is one of those rare films that causes theater audiences to spontaneously erupt into applause -- more than once.
It's the story of the Goodwill Band in Miami, featuring a group of people who have various disabilities. Many of the members of the band had no musical training until they signed up in the factory where they work. Their personal stories are touching, and sometimes quite funny. Watching these people struggle so hard for their accomplishments should inspire the rest of us to contemplate what wonders we could produce if we all tried that hard.
The most striking thing about this movie, though, was watching their musical director, Javier Pena, slowly nurture them into musicians, demonstrating superhuman patience and calm in his alternating roles as teacher, cheerleader, referee, father-substitute, and friend.
Postscript: For Once in My Life won the Best Documentary award at the Port Townsend Film Festival. I've heard that the movie may be shown on public television in February.
It's the story of the Goodwill Band in Miami, featuring a group of people who have various disabilities. Many of the members of the band had no musical training until they signed up in the factory where they work. Their personal stories are touching, and sometimes quite funny. Watching these people struggle so hard for their accomplishments should inspire the rest of us to contemplate what wonders we could produce if we all tried that hard.
The most striking thing about this movie, though, was watching their musical director, Javier Pena, slowly nurture them into musicians, demonstrating superhuman patience and calm in his alternating roles as teacher, cheerleader, referee, father-substitute, and friend.
Postscript: For Once in My Life won the Best Documentary award at the Port Townsend Film Festival. I've heard that the movie may be shown on public television in February.
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