The Last Repair Shop
The Last Repair Shop is streaming on Disney Plus at the time of writing. No Common Sense rating. Mr F says 8+.
STORY: A
Success can come in surprising ways.
Searchlight Pictures gives us a peek inside the Los Angeles Unified School district’s musical instrument repair shop. It’s one of the last remaining shops of its kind in the country.
Elvis. Tina. Taylor. Beyonce. We know their names, of course, but there are tons of far less famous people who have had their lives transformed by music as well. In ways that don’t involve selling out arenas, chilling at the Grammys, or plastering countless magazine covers. The Last Repair Shop shows us the real impact music can have.
PEOPLE: A+
A diverse group of people shares the ways their lives have been transformed by music.
Music has always invited people of all different backgrounds to sit at the same table and chair dance. When you see something you have in common (music, for example) with somebody different than you, you then begin to notice more things you have in common. Over time, the differences become fewer, and the connection grows.
FILM NERD STUFF: A
The camera pushes up close and personal, right in people’s faces.
You can’t see much else when people are telling their stories. Their faces take up the entire frame. And since the frame is the entire world of a film, we in the audience understand that their stories mean the entire world to each of them. The full frame underscores the immensity of music’s impact.
PAY IT FORWARD (Elective Class): A
A beautiful testament to the importance of giving back.
Every person in this movie is so grateful for what music has done for them. They feel it’s their duty to make sure others have the same opportunity.
Not every kid’s life will be saved by a violin. But every day - every moment - that a violin is able to be played is a day - a moment - that just might change a life forever. What could be more important than not letting those opportunities slip by?
FINAL COMMENTS:
This is a beautifully made film with a beautiful message, and more than worthy of its Oscar nomination. Don’t miss it.