A JAZZMAN'S BLUES

US, 2022, 127 minutes, Colo

Joshua Boone, Amirah Vann, Solea Pfeiffer, Austin Scott, Ryan Eggold, Milauna-Jemai Jackson, Brent Antonello, Brad Benedict, E. Roger Michell.

Directed by Tyler Perry.

Tyler Perry has built up an extraordinary reputation over the decades. With his studios in Atlanta, Georgia, he has made a number of films and television series dramatising African-American life, both serious and comic. He has served as writer, producer, director, also acting in a number of films and beyond his own, even starring has James Patterson’s Alex Cross.

He is particularly known for his Madaea series, very broad comedies in which he plays the matriarch.

Perry has also made a number of dramas over the years, again with African-American themes. And this is the case here.

The film opens in 1987, an elderly lady pestering the local law enforcement is, wanting a solution to a murder 40 years earlier. The officer is reluctant but eventually begins to read the documents that she presents to him.

The action goes back to 1937, into the African-American community in the town, scenes of the people gathered together for outdoor meals, celebrations, music. We are introduced to a family, the musician father who is tyrannical, supportive of his older son, Willie (Austin Scott), continually putting down his younger son who is supported by his mother. The father moved to Chicago, the other mother works, taking in washing, but eventually opening up and building which serves as a gathering club where she sings, the younger son helping at the bar, the older son clashing with his brother, indications of themes of Cain and Abel, but going off to find his father.

The focus is on the younger son, Bayou (Joshua Boone) and the strong support of his mother, Hattie Mae (Amirah Vann). By you is attracted by a young girl, Leanne (Solea Pfeiffer) and they meet at night, by you discovering that she is abused by her grandfather. She breaks off, taken away by her mother and disappears. Bayou continues to write to her frequently but the mother sends back the letters. Time passes, Bayou does military service, returns, works with his mother.

The main action takes place 10 years later, 1947, Hattie Mae prospering both with the washing and the club. The older brother returns with his agent, (Ryan Eggold) with the prospect of an audition in Chicago. There are melodramatic developments, the return of Leanne and her mother, both passing for white, Leanne married to the brother of the local racist sheriff. Leanne makes rendezvous arrangements with Bayyou leading to a sexual encounter. To escape the town, Bayou and his brother and the agent escape, cross the state line and make their way to Chicago.

Bayou is urged to sing by the agent, is hired, while his temperamental brother plays the trumpet and is a drug addict. Bayou is a success at the club (whites only, no black customers). However, he feels the obligation to go back to visit his mother and Leanne who gives birth to a boy.

There is tragedy in Bayou’s return, betrayal by his brother, a lynching, the death that the old woman at the beginning of the film wants investigated. There is a twist at the end when we see Leanne in old age and it is her son who is reading the letters, the Confederate flag flying outside their house.

1. The title, the story of Bayou? The focus on jazz, music, instruments, singing, performance? Part of the culture?
2. The main action taking place in 1937 to 1947? The opening in 1987, the elderly Hattie Mae, demanding an investigation of the murder, her determination? Bringing the letters? The lawyer reading the documents? The flashbacks?
3. The atmosphere of the African-American community, 1937, the celebration, outdoors, everybody present, the father and his playing, Willie and the trumpet, the singing? Leanne and her watching Bayou?
4. Life at home, the dominating father, praising Willie, making demands on Bayou, his failing, his mother’s support? The meals, conflict, the father eventually packing up and leaving? Willie wanting to go with him? The clash between the two brothers – echoes of Cain and Abel?
5. Bayou, age 17, shy, awkward, put down by his father, supported by his mother, the messages, his going out in the night, meeting with Leanne, their sharing, the bond between them, the depth of his love? His going to her house, the grandfather abusing her? Nobody saying anything? The message that Leanne was leaving, her mother, taking her away, no contact?
6. The succeeding 10 years, Bayou and his military service, discharge? Writing every day to Leanne? Her mother receiving the letters, sending them back? The collection of letters?
7. Hattie Mae, her personality, doing the washing in the morning, Cisty helping her,Bayou helping her, the night, the club, everybody gathering, the music, singing? Willie and his return, with Ira, his manager?
8. Ira, later revelation to Bayou of the concentration camps, death of wife and child, his survival, philosophy of survival, going south, his illness, Hattie Mae and Bayou reviving him? Arranging the audition for Willie, the situation, taking Willie and Bayou, in Chicago, the owner of the club, for whites only, no Blacks allowed in, the performance, singing and dancing? The owner, telling Ira to come back, Willie leaving angrily, Ira having heard Bayou, urging him to sing, his being employed, performance, becoming the star, sold-out performances? Willie, the trumpet, the jealousy, the drugs?
9. Bayou with the washing, seeing Leanne on her return? Married? Her husband and ambitions to be mayor? Brother-in-law and his being the sheriff, racist sheriff, also on the take for money from Hattie Mae’s club? Leanne’s mother and her domination? The issue of passing for white? The control of Leanne, going out to see Bayou? Cisty and her covering, Leanne’s nasty reaction, apology? Cisty and her continued help? Leanne and the liaison, the sexual encounter with Bayou? Her mother in the car?
10. Everybody together, Leanne pregnant, Cisty and Hattie Mae assisting with the birth? The issue of the paternity? Leanne being denounced, by her mother? Taken away?
11. Bayou, his success in Chicago, contact with his mother, the Post Office stealing her money? Leanne offering to pay for the groceries, Hattie Mae’s refusal? Bayou and his discussions with Ira, concern about Willie and his drugs, their performing together, Willie’s collapse? Bayou’s decision to go to visit his mother, Ira and Willie accompanying him? The return, joy, the club, the singing?
12. Bayou going out to see Leanne, the baby? Willie, the betrayal, informing the sheriff? The posse, the pursuit, Leanne watching jn the bus? The pursuit of Bayou, torture and hanging him?
13. The crowd hearing the shots, the bodyguards killed, going to the tree, the death of Bayou?
14. 1987, the aged Leanne, the sheriff, her son? Race and heritage issues? Flying the confederate flag? A sad ending and commentary on racism and consequences?