327. One Note At A Time; movie review

ONE NOTE AT A TIME
Cert PG

95 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild bad language, drug references

On our recent trip to America we must have been asked half a dozen times if we were planning to visit New Orleans.
Unfortunately, the answer was no but, despite, the sadness of much of its content, One Note At A Time, has put it firmly on to our bucket list.
Renée Edwards' film looks at the tragic fall-out of Hurricane Katrina on the musicians of the Big Easy.
These are people whose life and work were shattered by the floods which left the city in ruins.
They tell shattering stories of how they lost friends, relatives and homes. Even their musical instruments didn't escape the waves of destruction.

But as they battled back from the horrors of Katrina, it has emerged that they face an ever greater threat - the health issues which are associated with poverty.
I must admit that it had never occurred to me that so many of the musicians who give New Orleans its worldwide reputation would be on the breadline.
Worse still, many are dying after contracted diseases, such as diabetes, which could be linked to their lifestyle.
Edwards has spent much of her life in New Orleans and it is clear from her movie that she has great empathy with her subjects.
She also focuses on the musicians' clinic, set up to provide free healthcare, thanks to donations which are mostly from abroad.
The interviews with musicians and physicians were conducted over several years during which some of the participants sadly passed away.
Indeed, in a couple of instances, they are seen during their final days before their typically flamboyant New Orleans funerals.
One Note At A Time highlights the importance of the musicians to the culture of New Orleans and yet shows how little they are valued by the establishment.
It is punctuated by some great jazz music as well as some terrific anecdotes.
But it also points a finger at the United States' health services - or the lack of them - and the disregard too many American citizens have for their own.
Thankfully, there are some big hearts and among them are those who run the musicians' clinic. It is a shame there are not more caring people such as them.

Reasons to watch: Delves deep back stage to reach the musicians of New Orleans
Reasons to avoid: The stories become a little samey

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7.5/10

Director quote - Renée Edwards: "The seismic shift of the availability of affordable health services for the working poor has been likened to what happened in New Orleans post- Hurricane Katrina in August 2005."

The big question - Why doesn't the American government care about the health of the poor?

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