Welcome back to the Cause Cinema Spotlight. 3 recommendations in under 10 minutes.
Let’s recognize the power of music, and pay tribute to David Crosby, who we lost this week at the ripe old age of 81. He was a founding member of The Byrds, and then Crosby Stills & Nash.
“The power of music is undeniable. I truly believe that it can change the world.”
Graham Nash (from Echo in the Canyon)
We’ll kick things off with a terrific documentary, where he plays a key role.
Echo in the Canyon
This terrific film takes a look at how musical groups such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, and The Mamas & the Papas birthed the beginnings of the Laurel Canyon music scene and how the echo of these artists' creations reverberated across the world. Echo in the Canyon is a true celebration of the music explosion on the West Coast during this period.
With Sundance underway this week, let’s take a look at another music doc, about a another music rebel - Sinead O'Connor. Nothing Compares played the fest in 2022 and is now available for streaming.
Nothing Compares
Following the career of celebrated singer Sinéad O'Connor through her rise to fame and exploring the ways her iconoclastic personality led to exile from the pop mainstream. The doc respectfully presents the tragic rise and fall of this creative pop star.
Staying with the power of the music theme this week, let’s move on to a country music icon.
The Return Of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile
Trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman was supposed to behave. Decades after Tanya slipped from the spotlight, music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an album for her, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.
Fan fiction meets archival footage in this powerful movie, and you don’t have to be a country music fan to enjoy the ride here - the film did win the audience award at last year’s SXSW film fest!
That is a wrap for the Cause Cinema Spotlight this week. I’m Jon Fitzgerald for Filmmaking for Change. And I Hope you get a chance to enjoy these terrific music docs.
And remember, word of mouth helps many of these smaller films find bigger audiences.
Feel free to share the recommendations with your friends.
Be well.
Cause Cinema Spotlight