(USA, 74 min.)
Dir. Poull Brien
Why is it so hard to make it in America? Charles Bradley has
been performing for decades, but it wasn’t until the age of 62 that he released
his first album. Bradley, moreover, spent much of his formative years under the
shadow of someone else. As the James Brown look-alike/tribute man, the soul
singer performed under the aliases of James Brown, Jr. and Black Velvet, the
latter of which filled marquees more frequently. (When there were marquees
to fill.) Bradley’s music is hard-hitting and soulful. Charles Bradley: The Soul of America, the first American film to
screen at the Ottawa International Film Festival, makes a welcome stop at the
festival after screening at SXSW and Hot Docs. This documentary, which
chronicles Bradley’s struggle to make it in the music business, is as moving
and intimate as Bradley’s music.
The documentary follows Bradley in the weeks before the
release of No Time for Dreaming and
offers numerous clips from interviews in which the singer tells of his life and
background. Bradley is currently supporting his elderly mother – both in care
and in finances – and he has spent most of his life looking out for his family.
Bradley comes from the south, but he eventually moved to New York as a child when
his mother went there in search of better opportunities. The film illuminates
Bradley’s character by offering some testimony from his relatives who state
that his mother actually abandoned him in the south and ultimately moved the
family for reasons that were more selfish in nature. Regardless of the truth, the
film shows that Bradley sacrificed much of his youth and adulthood for the
betterment of his family.
The film explains Bradley’s backstory and tells how he nurtured this talent in spite of the lack of opportunity in his social situation. Dogged by the cops and working dead-end jobs to make ends meet and support his family, the film almost portrays Bradley as being beat by life. His experiences taught him how to cook for a crowd of 3500, but he reads at a 1st Grade level, so fewer opportunities are likely to open up. However, the film shows the success of Bradley’s performances as Black Velvet, as well as the support that grows when his peers in the history begins to take notice of his voice.
Bradley’s personal history propels much of the emotion within
the film. That’s fitting because it does the same with his music, as clips of
his rehearsals and his performances (not to mention interviews with his
collaborators in the band and his producers at Daptone Records) reveal his
enthusiasm at finally getting his turn. Bradley’s passion for his music, his
family, and his beliefs are plainly clear in the film.
Charles Bradley: The
Soul of America is a fair and modest portrait of the pursuit of the American
dream. Thanks to Charles’s talent and determination, and more importantly his
ability to continue in the face of adversity, the film shows that the dream is
possible. The poignant documentary shows that one can make it in America, but it’s no
easy task. It’s inspiring to see Bradley get the chance he deserves. Charles Bradley should please fans of
the soulful singer and it will doubtlessly inspire more.
Rating: ★★★½ (out of ★★★★★)
UPDATE: Charles Bradley screens in Ottawa at The ByTowne Sept 2-3.
Rating: ★★★½ (out of ★★★★★)
UPDATE: Charles Bradley screens in Ottawa at The ByTowne Sept 2-3.
