New Orleans Music in Exile

New Orleans Music in Exile is a 2006 American documentary film directed by Robert Mugge. The film is an emotionally rich, artistically woven celebration of New Orleans' musical heritage and culture. With a runtime of 113 minutes, the film delves into the heart of the city's unparalleled music scene, focusing on its subsequent struggles and resilience in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The profound narrative is structured around the voices of local musicians such as Jim Taylor, Lewis Setliff III, and the legendary Dr. John. Acting as both a vibrant historical chronicle and an intimate look into a city struggling to rebuild, the film investigates the colossal impact the hurricane had on the local music community and the city's ongoing healing process.

The film opens with a visually stunning depiction of a once-thriving city now eerily silent and nearly abandoned - a stark testament to the catastrophic disaster that displaced thousands of residents and musicians. The director, Robert Mugge, subsequently takes viewers on a journey to Memphis and Nashville, where many musicians found refuge and continued to maintain the spirit of New Orleans music, despite their displacement.

Throughout the documentary, Mugge intelligently has his lens follow artists like Jim Taylor and Lewis Setliff III, offering a plethora of intimate performances and personal narratives. These provide a poignant, sometimes heart-wrenching glimpse of the individual stories underlying the broader narrative of survival and renewal.

The acclaimed songwriter and pianist, Dr. John, eloquently busts the myths about the city, and unwraps the real New Orleans, its music, and its people, in his distinctive style. His interviews provide valuable context, taking viewers far beyond the tourist cliches to reveal the living, breathing soul of the city and its music scene.

Drawing strength from compelling testimonials and electrifying performances, New Orleans Music in Exile engages not only with the bittersweet melodies of the area but also sincerely addresses the raw reality of a city grappling with unprecedented devastation. The film fearlessly questions the governmental response and criticizes developers who saw the imposition of Katrina as an opportunity for urban renewal at the expense of the local community.

Beyond the storm's devastation and the subsequent neglect, the film also investigates the more profound impact on New Orleans' musical ecosystem. It powerfully depicts how the disruption of neighborhoods – the lifeblood of the city’s music scene – threatened to erode the traditions that bred New Orleans’ distinct musical language. It brings to light the importance of street culture, intergenerational transmission, and the neighborhood bonds that sustain the city's unique music scene.

In spite of the dark undertones, the film is ultimately a celebration. Throughout the devastation and struggle, the spirit of New Orleans, embodied in its renowned music, remains undefeated. The audience is privy to moving scenes of performers returning to their cherished city, exchanging stories of survival, and using music as a means of restoration. The film includes enchanting live performances, from soulful blues and swinging jazz to lively zydeco, that despite their backstories, maintain an undercurrent of joy and resilience.

New Orleans Music in Exile is more than just reporting the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It is about the human spirit, about resilience, about the fight for cultural preservation, and above all, it is about the undeniable power of music as a connective tissue of a community. The film pays tribute to the city's unique artistic legacy and bears witness to the enduring soul of New Orleans, which remains undaunted, in part thanks to its deeply rooted and vibrant music scene.

Whether you are a seasoned admirer of New Orleans' music or a newcomer, this film gives you a profound appreciation for the city's rich musical heritage and the importance of its preservation. It will leave you with a deeper understanding of the power of music, community spirit, and the collective resilience of the human spirit even in the face of unfathomable adversity.