| DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN |
 2000
-
USA
Directors:
Nick
Dobb, Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker - Reviewed by Linda
Billed as an evening featuring the artists from the soundtrack of the Coen Brothers' popular film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Down From the Mountain captures a concert held at the legendary Ryman Auditorium (original home of the Grand Ole Opry) in Nashville, Tennessee on May 20, 2000. Thought to be a once-in-a-lifetime show, the evening was recorded for an album and a documentary. But the night was so wonderful and wildly successful (not to mention the soundtrack to O Brother ended up selling millions) that "Down From the Mountain" ended up going on the road as a traveling tour of old-time American tunes. The music in this film is absolutely wonderful. These performers are not big-haired country stars, but rather people you could imagine fiddling or picking a banjo on your front porch. Their down-home-ness is refreshing in this day and age of MTV and sensory-overload media. Legend Ralph Stanley looks like he could be your grandpa, but he'll send chills down your spine with his acapella rendition of the traditional "O Death". The little Peasall Sisters look like they are auditioning (somewhat nervously) for a country fair. But even more well-known pros like Emmylou Harris, and Alison Krauss & Union Station fit into the program like comfortable old shoes. The drawback of the DVD (and the film) is that performers come and go, on stage and in interview, and you're lucky if you happen to hear them mention who they are or the name of the song they're singing. The credits of the film don't help much either, as songs are often just listed as "Traditional" without mentioning who performed it in the film. There's one traditional song so gorgeous that it just about made me burst into tears, performed by Emmylou, David Rawlings, and Gillian Welch, but for the life of me the actual title of the song is just my best guess for me after I searched with much frustration through the menus and the credits. But regardless some of the problems with the film itself (like some erratic focus, the problems with credits, etc.) Down From the Mountain is a musical treat. You may not know who or what you are listening to, but you can sit back an enjoy the evening all the same. They sure don't make tunes like this anymore! |
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As
corny as this may sound, the music featured in the concert documentary Down
From the Mountain makes me proud to be an American. I think it is no
accident that the so-called "roots music" (or folk, or Americana, or
alt-country, or what have you) revival is due in part to the wave of patriotism
in the post-September 11th aftermath. This Depression-era music is as American
as apple pie and baseball. It has a simple purity, honesty, and sadness that
feels reassuring in these crazy times.