Music from the Big House

Music from the Big House is an enlightening and heartfelt documentary film from 2010, directed by Bruce McDonald. It features the talented blues singer, Rita Chiarelli, known as the 'goddess of Canadian blues'. The film offers an interesting exploration not only of the music specifically but, more broadly, of inmates' lives, their thoughts, and experiences in the Louisiana State Maximum Security Prison; famously known as 'Angola'.

The film opens with Rita, who journeys to Louisiana - the birthplace of delta and modern blues. Rita's love for the blues as an omniscient force in her life is a driving theme throughout the film. Her bold charisma and unmasked vulnerability serve as a magnetizing on-screen presence. Her in-depth understanding and appreciation of the blues music genre is an integral part of the emotional Journey that the film embarks upon.

Music from the Big House sees Rita interacting with various prisoners who were musicians before their funnylines and who continue to create music as a means of maintaining their sanity and expressing their feelings within the prison walls. Rita provides an opportunity for these men to express their love for music and share their poignant life experiences through songs. It results in raw and unfiltered music that is filled with emotion and serves as a chronicle of their hardships and tales of redemption.

The documentary isn't just a tale about making music. It discusses the important role music plays in these inmates' lives and how it aids in their rehabilitation. It's noteworthy that many of the prisoners have been sentenced to life without parole expectancies, demonstrating how their perspectives on life, remorse, redemption, and hope are molded by their chilling reality.

Rita and her band conduct a series of workshops, sharing their insights and fostering a sense of camaraderie amongst the inmates. These moments showcase the power music holds in bridging differences and uniting people from diverse walks of life. As the story unfolds, the audience witnesses a unique kinship develop between Rita and the inmates, with their shared passion for music serving as the common thread.

The film is punctuated by several incredible live performance scenes, captured beautifully, which show the raw talent nestled within the prison's walls. Each performance serves as an outlet for the inmates' pent-up emotions, constructing an auditory journey that deeply resonates with its audience. These performances are the film's strongest moments and capture the heartfelt authenticity that only comes from personal storytelling.

Cinematographically, Music from the Big House is strongly appealing. The ambient sounds of the prison, the close-ups of the musicians, and the wide shots of the prison landscape foster an atmosphere that magnifies the reality of the prison environment. The direction by McDonald is subtle yet firm, and he allows Chiarelli to take center stage. He successfully manages to convey the stories of the prisoners and their music without compromising the harsh realities of their environment.

The film also addresses the dark history of Angola land itself, which was a former slave plantation converted into a prison facility – an idea that speaks volumes about the societal conditions that foster the perpetuation of injustice and systemic racism. It quietly examines the historical context, connecting the past and present in a powerful way.

Throughout its journey, Music from the Big House explores the complex duality of music as both a source of joy and expression, and as a coping mechanism for pain and introspection when freedom is just a distant memory. It encapsulates the power of transformation through music and personal redemption.

In conclusion, Music from the Big House is a profound, thought-provoking documentary that offers a fresh perspective on the lives of inmates, their relationship with music, and their quest for redemption. Most importantly, it’s a testament to the healing power of music and the human spirit's resilience, making it a must-watch for music enthusiasts and lovers of human-interest stories alike.