There are some stories that really show you the beauty of the world, and documentary filmmakers like Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers are experts at finding those stories and showing them off to the world in a way that will take your breath away. Joined by Searchlight Pictures and the LA Times, Bowers and Proudfoot are back again with another brilliant documentary film, this time focusing on a Los Angeles instrument repair shop that dedicates their time and energy to provide free repairs to musical instruments throughout one of the last school districts to provide students with instruments, no strings attached. In the Los Angeles Unified School District, these children are granted the gift of pursuing music, a hobby that can have an expensive point of entry.
Bowers, who has not only done music-focused documentary work before, is also a gifted pianist and alumni of the LAUSD, and whose piano was maintained during this time by one of the film’s subjects, Steve Bagyanman, a piano-tuner turned supervisor of the repair shop. Joining him in the documentary are Dana Atkinson, whose focus is on string instruments, woodwinds specialist Duane Michaels and brass repair master Paty Moreno. Proudfoot and Bowers do a brilliant job of giving each person the time to tell the story of how music entered their lives, how it’s affected them, and what brought them to the place where they are now, helping so many children discover the gift of music.
Several of the children are focused on as well, from a violinist to a saxophone player and so many other talented young musicians, who also talk about the joy and comfort playing an instrument has given them.
For a film about the gift that is music, the film also includes an incredible piece at the end, scored by Bowers and performed by graduates and current students of the LAUSD, aptly titled “The Alumni”, whose performance at the end of the film was so beautiful and powerful that it’s hard to hold back tears.
There is no question the dedication that Proudfoot and Bowers have put into making this film, and the incredible talents of those working in the repair shop. Films like these are so special, because it’s not only an amazing premise, but you get to see the people doing good in the world. Viewers can join in on celebrating these local heroes, who bring the magic of music to kids who can use the outlet to focus their energies and needs, keep them out of trouble and help them embark on journeys that could last them the rest of their lives.
Please check out the trailer for the film below, and you can find the full version on Disney+, or on the Los Angeles Times YouTube channel.
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