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[REVIEW] Song Sung Blue
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Lightning's vest hanging in the Sardina backyard
Those expecting a night of "Solitary Man" and "Sweet Caroline" may have been the only ones disappointed by the Midwest Independent Film Festival's latest affair. The Landmark Century on N. Clark welcomed a sold-out audience to see Greg Kohs' Song Sung Blue this past Tuesday the 3rd. The big struggle, big dreams documentary, which chronicles the tribulations of a Milwaukee-based Neil Diamond tribute act, has actually very little to do with the karaoke favorite's music, life, or spectacle—in fact, if it's big rock stars you're after, you won't get much farther here than an early '90s Eddie Vedder (who befriends the Midwest duo). Still, this is certainly a story of two, very wealthy individuals.
That being said, neither Mike "Lightning" Sardina nor his wife Claire "Thunder" Sardina have worked a regular job in decades. In their heyday, Lightning & Thunder were somewhat of a household name in Milwaukee, having each enjoyed successful solo careers prior to their meeting (Mike doing Diamond and Claire working through the repetoire of Patsy Cline). Their days of filling houses and easily surviving on their talent came to a screeching halt when an out-of-control driver plowed across their lawn, crushing Thunder and forcing her to have her leg amputated. Despite this apparently minor setback, an aging, smoking, and often sick Lightning reminds his poor, hungry, and disgruntled teenage children that he still has his "eyes on the prize" and refuses to submit to any nine-to-five routine. As can be expected, the marathon of challenges and setbacks the Sardina troupe encounter all accumulate to somewhat of a depressing film. Yet, that's not to say you won't leave the theatre feeling personally affected, inspired, and perhaps even optimistic.
During the subsequent Q&A, I considered asking the young director what was the central message of his somewhat verbose, yet highly moving film? However, once I'd heard the story of how Kohs met Lightning & Thunder at a Chicago biker bar, then repeatedly visited their home, invaded their privacy, and for nearly 15 years made their lives his own, it became quite clear what he hoped his Slamdance 2008-winning doc would preach. In telling the amazing story that is the better part of their adult lives, the struggling music lovers aren't trying to tell audiences to quit their jobs and go become rock stars or Hollywood filmmakers or change the world. As anyone involved in any way with independent creative production will tell you, happiness is doing what you love and eventually hearing someone say "thank you." Tuesday's Q&A ended with a request for Thunder—who was present for the event—to sing a few bars of some Patsy Cline. As she beautifully obliged, the story suddenly became painfully real to those who had, thus far, enjoyed the comfort, safety, and isolation of their theatre seat. In the end, Song Sung Blue is a very American story and should obviously be more widely available. Here's looking forward to its eventual wide distribution, in whatever medium possible.
The Midwest Independent Film Festival resumes Tuesday, April 7, 2009 and the first Tuesday of every month to follow. More info to come as it is released.
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