One Note at a Time

An unmanipulative documentary that takes an unusual route into the city of New Orleans post-Katrina, via a clinic for musicians. The music is a joy and the characters extraordinary. What a city.

A fantastic film. I learnt so much about the music scene in New Orleans. You fall in love with all the characters and their own stories, told through their own words and with the use of some great filming. It makes you feel like you are really there and that each character is part of one big family committed to sharing their musical talents whatever life throws their way. Inspirational and moving.

Music heals the masses, but who heals the musicians? An accurate portrayal how important The Musicians Clinic is to the music community. In a city that values music, the clinic helps keep the music alive by keeping the musicians healthy. Reneé Edwards presents a poignant documentary that leaves you cheering for the clinic, rooting for the musicians, and mourning those who have been "called home". If you want to know New Orleans, this is a "must see".

One Note at A Time

This film was spell binding to watch, as it unrolled the reality of the everyday lives of the musicians through their voices, music, beautiful footage of the city and the work of the New Orleans Musicians Clinic.

Heartfelt, 4 years in the making, a mountain of footage intelligently edited, it gives a richness and depth of vision, revealing the lives and deaths of the musicians that give New Orleans its place on our collective cultural map.

Alive with the joy or jazz it invites us look past the tourist brochure and treasure what we find.

This film is full of stunning images that set the tone to an inner sadness that underscores this very original take on New Orleans. Though evident throughout this film, Renee's profound love for this great city and its people clearly does not interfere with her acute sense of objectivity. She manages to deal with this soulful subject on so many levels that you are left with a feeling of being in a room surrounded by windows, each with a different view on life. At its core, the film is about the beautiful side of being human and although very little optimism is in play, a warm spirit of hope does quietly emerge. Of course there is an ugly side too, but it is very delicately implied. Just by what you see you can't help thinking about the shocking level of America's indifference for one of its most valuable cultural treasures. Katrina's devastating impact on the featured microcosm is a backdrop that accentuates the resilience of a people with a unique philosophy on life and probably the healthiest approach to mortality. In the end it becomes obvious that Katrina is just another episode on top of countless other trials and tribulations endured by so many generations that created the strength that was so eloquently expressed through music. The endurance showcased in this film allows some hope for the future of New Orleans as a valuable contributor of cultural wealth.