Fiddlin' was created by sister filmmakers from the Appalachian mountains. Director-Writer, Julie Simone and Producer-Writer, Vicki Vlasic, went back to their roots to capture the culture, history and talent that has dwelled in these mountains for a couple hundred years. It probably helped that they were once locals because the interviews are genuine and dig deep into the hearts of their subjects. You can't help but appreciate the beautiful cinematography, but it is the raw and prodigious talent of the subjects that keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat and moving in time with the music.
As I looked around at the festival screening I attended in Charlottesville, VA, I was surrounded by smiling faces and was amazed at how engaged the whole theater was. There was laughter, applause, toe-tapping and a few tears as well.
Young guitar prodigy and little heartbreaker, Presley Barker, will make your jaw drop and have you wishing you had stuck with music lessons as a kid. His mentor and world class luthier (a custom, hand made instrument builder), Wayne Henderson, shares his talents with not only Presley but many of the young kids in the region. As the film is set during the Galax Fiddler's Convention, you'll see Wayne and Presley wind up competing for top prize in the guitar competition. The film also paid tribute to some of the historical greats whose contributions have kept the Old Time and Bluegrass music genres alive. The Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe and multi-Grammy winning singer-songwriter, Doc Watson, both appear in archival footage and add to the historical elements.
Seeing so many young kids holding instruments and hanging out with the old folks left me wishing for that simplicity for my own children and had me picking up my old guitar once again. This is a film I could watch again and again and one I will share with friends and family for years to come..
