The 78 Project Movie
Alex Steyermark:
The 78 Project Movie (USA, 2014)
96 min. • English
The 78 Project Movie is a fascinatingly made road trip-esque documentary about gramophone records and American folk music. The makers travel in the footsteps of Alan Lomax and capture old folk songs with original recording equipment from the 1930s.
Alan Lomax has perhaps had the most influence in North American music history. He toured the States in the 30s and recorded thousands of folk songs, performed by, among others, Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, and Muddy Waters. Lomax’s archive is considered the basis for a whole century’s worth of popular music.
The makers of The 78 Project Movie travel across the US following Lomax’s journey and record old songs performed by modern-day artists. Since they use a 1930s direct-to-disc recorder, the songs are stored directly onto the vinyl in one three-minute take. These intimate recording sessions are absolutely breathtaking, both visually and sound-wise.
Grand landscapes and the atmosphere of travelling frame this intimate documentary which you should see even if you’re not a record enthusiast.
See also:
» Selma Vilhunen: Song (Laulu)
» Greg Camalier: Muscle Shoals
» Heikki Huttu-Hiltunen: Instrument of Himmler (Himmlerin kanteleensoittaja)
» Selma Vilhunen: Song (Laulu)
» Greg Camalier: Muscle Shoals
» Heikki Huttu-Hiltunen: Instrument of Himmler (Himmlerin kanteleensoittaja)
Screening time:
Tapio 4 • Wed 12th Nov at 5:00pm