Blues music, as seen through American Blues musician Grant Sabin’s eyes, is at the heart of what humans do. In the day-in-the-life-style film One After the Other, music accompanies the narration of Sabin. Meanwhile, black and white illustrations depict the narrator’s day.
We hear only the commentary of the artist and his music. The film leaves little to be imagined as the illustrations have imitated that which was, assumedly, visually documented on that day. Images of smoke, wood grain, and shaded darkness are common, and add a sense of repetition to the daily recount.
Arguably more important than the visual aids, in this reviewer’s opinion, is the audio. While the illustration did not always tether to what was being said, the background audio of a car’s blinker or boots on a wooden floor grounds us, helping us pivot from momentary confusion.
In this thirteen minute short film, Sabin traverses themes of death, human nature, and, most prevalently, music. These themes present themselves organically as the narrator navigates a day, some prompted by a silent interviewer and others surfacing unspurred.
Ending on a literal note, Sabin strums his guitar and sings to his audience, “Thank you, stranger, for your kindness.”
For more information, visit the Flying Film Festival Facebook page.
RECOMMENDED
Photos courtesy of FLYING FILM FESTIVAL
About the Author:
Margaret Smith is a writer, editor, and critic achieving her B.A. from Columbia College Chicago. Having migrated from small-town Illinois, she now dwells in Chicago with a curious eye for art and a penchant for commentary. When not putting pen to paper, you might catch her about the city sipping coffee and filling in crossword puzzles.
