ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

New Orleans

Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story: The Heartbeat of Hope

New Orleans is a city built on culture.?

Directed by Ryan Suffern and Frank Marshall, Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story attempts to tap into the energy of ?Nawlins by focusing on its iconic music festival. Recorded in 2019, the film gives the iconic festival its moment in the sun. With 7,000 musicians on 14 stages over the course of eight days and an attendance of almost a million people, Jazz Fest has become a central tenet of New Orleans culture over the last five decades. 

Featuring performances by musical legends such as Jimmy Buffett, Earth, Wind and Fire, Katy Perry and Al Green, the festival has remained constant force in the French Quarter, offering diverse musical flavours that brings the people together. In fact, from the toxicity of segregation to the damage of Katrina, the Festival has historically served as an opportunity to break down barriers between people. Regardless of race, age or gender, everyone is invited to come together at this massive celebration of life.

After all, the love of music knows no color.

However, Jazz Fest is as much about a city as it is about the festival itself. This is very much a story of a city. (It is subtitled A New Orleans Story after all.) Although the film offers wonderful live performances, it also leans into the vitality of New Orleans itself. Dating back more than 50 years, Jazz Fest has tapped into the heartbeat of its home. Celebrating the city?s food, diverse population and even Mardi Gras help this Fest to become about far more than about who?s on stage at the moment. 

Interestingly though, the film also spends a great deal connecting its music with the city?s spiritual history. Music in New Orleans is more than simply a fun night out. It?s a spiritual experience. Fueled by thousands of gospel choirs, there is a deep connection between the church and the city?s musical ethos. Because many of the city?s great musicians began within the church, the emphasis on soul becomes embedded in their performances. In fact, the film even highlights the worship tent specifically, claiming that the many who attend find far more than staccato beats and stunning voices. There is a connection to something deeper taking place. In these spaces, musicians and listeners alike discover healing and hope from the troubles of the world around them. (To be fair, it?s also worth noting that, while the church is heavily emphasized, Jazz Fest does also explores some of New Orleans? different faith aspects as well.)

In the end, Jazz Fest is an eye-popping doc that offers footage of some incredible performances. (For instance, Katy Perry?s combination of ?Firework? and ?O Happy Day?, led by a church choir is definitely a highlight.) More than this though, it is also very much A New Orleans Story as well. Although one festival cannot possibly exhibit every aspect of a city, Jazz Fest certainly does its best to remind the people who they are and inspire them to hope for what is to come.

Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story plays in theatres on Friday, June 3rd, 2022.

Who Wants An Apocalypse? – The Story of God (Ep. 2)

ExplosionIn his poem ?Fire and Ice,? Robert Frost offers?a brief discussion about how the end of the world will occur. In the end, he seems content with either fire or ice, but the end of planet earth is a topic many people discuss and debate today:?How?s it going to happen?? Who?s going to set the pieces in motion? Are we going to be around to see it happen with our own eyes?? In tonight?s second episode of The Story of God with Morgan Freeman (National Geographic Channel, 9P/8C), he takes a closer look at what faith has to say about the end of days. The findings are worth taking a look at for yourself.

While Freeman takes trips in the episode to Mexico (Aztec), India (Buddhist), Jerusalem (Jewish), and New York City (Islam?and a fascinating discussion with a gentleman who was part of the group that would later become Al Qaeda), the episode has a significant focus on the Christian belief of how the world will meet its demise.? Freeman talks with Jodi Magness, a professor at UNC, as she takes him to Qumran and shows him where the Dead Sea Scrolls were located.? The location is pretty breathtaking, as the caves built into the rock formations offer a glimpse of where the Battle of Armageddon would supposedly take place. The folks who occupied the caves?known as the Essenes?believed the impending war would bring them redemption lasting for eternity. They got their battle, all right?but it was with the Romans, who dropped by for a visit in 68 AD and destroyed the sect.

This concept of war has always been part of the canon of Christianity?all it takes is a quick read of the book of Revelation.? With all its symbolism and heavenly preparations for God to usher in a new heaven and new earth, a major focal point has involved the 13th chapter of the book.? It includes a massive beast rising out of the sea, a second beast giving orders to worship the first beast, and the imposition of a mark on all people?the number 666. Horror movie directors love it and devoted followers of Jesus today are scared to have it anywhere in their sight, whether it be on a license plate or their number of Facebook friends.

Morgan Freeman and Kim Haines-Eitzen
ROME – Morgan Freeman examines ancient documents with Cornell University Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Religions Kim Haines-Eitzen at the Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome, Italy.?? (photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Seth Nejame)

Freeman visits the Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome, a centuries-old library filled with ancient texts, for a discussion with Cornell professor Kim Haines-Eitzen. She shows him some writings and talks about who Revelation 13 may be referring to (hint: it didn?t involve any political candidates in America during the 21st century). Using numerology, the writings seem to show the Antichrist was Emperor Nero, a wild ruler from Rome in the first century who persecuted Christians intensely, killing them or using them as human torches. There was even speculation the number in the Bible was actually 616, not 666. But nevertheless, people of that time supposedly knew exactly who the text was talking about?and lived their lives appropriately.

If there is one point the second episode of The Story of God with Morgan Freeman seeks to make, it?s that the end of days allows people an opportunity to renew their lives. ?He references Hurricane Katrina?s visit to New Orleans in 2004 and talks to people who started their lives over as a result?particularly in the Ninth Ward.? The apocalypse may not happen today, tomorrow, or even five years from now, but it provides us the opportunity for introspection and a chance to be renewed as we consider God and are reminded that He?s ultimately in control of the winds, waves, and the end of the world.?