SXSW 2016

I Am The Blues

2016 • Music, Documentary, History • 106 minutes • 41 ratings • 12 reviews

Directed by Daniel Cross

A musical journey through the swamps of the Louisiana Bayou, the juke joints of the Mississippi Delta and Moonshine soaked BBQs in the North Mississippi Hill Country. Visiting the last original blues devils, many in their 80's, still living in the deep south, working without management and touring the Chitlin' Circuit. Let Bobby Rush, Barbara Lynn, Henry Gray, Carol Fran, Lazy Lester, Bilbo Walker, RL Boyce, Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes, Lil Buck Sinegal, LC Ulmer and their friends awaken the blues in all of us.

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Reviews

  • ★★★★ review by brianwi on Letterboxd

    Chronicles the end of an era on a number of levels. Plus killer blues throughout.

  • ★★★½ review by Robert Reineke on Letterboxd

    Sometimes the wisest thing a filmmaker can do is get out of the way. Albeit, the result is something of a shapeless film.

  • ★★★½ review by Wildct2003 on Letterboxd

    Features slice of life documentary work covering several ancient (70+ years old) blues musicians, including some performances.

  • ★★★★ review by joeyb on Letterboxd

    What a well done documentary that swims naturally in some deep, deep emotion .... the capturing of so many of lives of wonderful storytellers through song...the roots of so much racism in our american culture..the south seeps into your bones watching this story unfold...much respect for the inhabitants of these lives that have been both celebrated and also tossed aside.

    Bobby Rush is focused on in this doc, but also the larger examination - without peaching to the choir but told with honesty through so many voices - just how much all of this music has affected the whole of american music and culture, and it's spread to british rock and roll groups as well.

    A necessary film for real music fans and music history lovers.

  • ★★★★ review by jack_overbeck on Letterboxd

    This doc shined a light on a grassroots part of the blues that I was heretofore unfamiliar with. The time spent with each musician created a strong emotional connection and allowed each to amply tell their story.

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