A Jazzman's Blues review: Tyler Perry presents a heart-touching drama that reflects the Southern black culture beautifully

4/5

Story: Set in 1940’s Georgia, the film starts with a love story between Bayou (Joshua Boone) and Leanne (Solean Pfeiffer). Bayou is a slow learner, soft, and close to his mother. His father teases him for being too soft. The young boy can sing like his mother but can’t play and his father couldn’t be happy about it. Leanne leaves him and goes to Boston with her mother after he proposes to her. A Jazzman’s Blues is an absorbing journey of Bayou and his mother Hattie Mae (Amirah Vann) in racially intolerant areas of America.

Review: It was 1955 when Rosa Parks – American civil rights activist – refused to obey the bus driver’s order to vacate a row of four seats from the ‘coloured’ section when the ‘white’ selection was full. Bayou and his family, like thousands of other African Americans in that country, had little choice but to abide by the bus segregation before that. Black men’s history is brutal in that country and taking a cue from the legacy of discrimination and torture, A Jazzman’s Blues presents a melancholy ride based on a love story.

After the first five minutes, this coming-of-age period drama goes into a flashback in a small town. Young and shy Bayou is his mama’s boy. His father and brother Willie Earl’s (Austin Scott) masculine pride doesn’t touch him but light-skinned black girl Leanne’s company makes him read faster. Together, they fall in love. However, Leanne’s mother refuses to accept a black man’s household for her daughter and she takes her away.

Bayou meets Leanne again in Hopewell. She is not the wife of a white politician whose brother is the sheriff of the town. They reluctantly rekindle but her mother hounds him out of the town resorting to a lie. Bayou’s talent for music makes him a popular singer and his brother, once a brilliant trumpet player, sinks into substance abuse and harbours nothing but jealousy for his brother.

The film is dotted with some beautiful characters. Ira (Ryan Eggold) – Willie Earl’s manager and a holocaust survivor – is one of them. His restrained expression steals hearts. Citsy (Milauna Jemai Jackson) – Hattie Mae’s friend and Leanne’s house help – is another one. She is one stout character who silently stands by her friends.

Every character quietly portrays their part. There is not a single moment of excess in the acting detriment. Joshua Boone as Bayou and Amirah Vann as Hattie Mae are intensely beautiful throughout the film. The film also presents captivating dialogues and reflects the Southern black culture faithfully. The soulful blues and jazz are integral parts of the film. The story flows at ease as it becomes yet another heart-wrenching saga of America’s black history.

Verdict: A Jazzman’s Blues was premiered at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival where it was called Tyler Perry’s Best work so far by the critics. The film delves into racial tension in the garb of lovers’ separation. It is a treat to watch for its storyteller and acting.