In 1964, Johnny Cash – who up to that point was known solely as a country singer – recorded “Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian”, a concept album of folk songs about the treatment of Native Americans. It was not a great commercial success, primarily because radio stations and disc jockeys were unwilling to play such socially engaged protest songs. Angry and disappointed, Cash called Billboard Magazine to account in an open letter. “Where are your guts?” he wrote, and drew a parallel between the treatment of Native Americans and blacks – the Civil Rights Movement was at its height in 1964. In response to criticism that he had very rapidly transformed into a folk singer, he explained, “As times change, I change.”
This engaging documentary is a meditative mystery revealing an unknown moment in history that changed America with performances and interviews from musicians Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Rosanne Cash, and comes at a time when America is once again gripped by racial tension. Dir Antonino D’Ambrosio, 59 min, USA/2015.
preceded by short film “Hi, How Are You Daniel Johnston?” Directed by filmmaker Gabriel Sunday, Daniel Johnston stars in this psychedelic short film about an aging musician coming to terms with the dreams of yesteryear.
TICKET LINK: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1076615
