American Symphony

While some of the backstage material has an official feel, the documentary does not shy from showing private moments.

Both Batiste and Jaouad put their faith and trust in Heineman, and the result is a candid testament to an unconditional love that’s threatened by cancer but defined by one remarkable couple’s commitment to get through it together.

American Symphony plays more like a series of snapshots than a complete picture -- or perhaps more aptly, an unfinished symphony punctuated by lovely, graceful notes.

This is off base for [director Matthew Heineman], but he brings this great cinematic scale to it.

A very good examination of how you deal with the highs and lows as a creative artist.

It’s once American Symphony begins harmonizing these highs and lows, adding minor-key grace notes to its major-chord melody voicings, that it not only finds its voice but begins to transcend being “just” a making-of doc.

Heineman treats his subjects with respect and reserve. There are no false moments of drama to give the film a crescendo, no talking heads giving us context. It’s intimate, quiet, lovely, and, melancholy aside, there are moments of connection and joy.

The doc is an intimate look into the duality of triumph and suffering, the vibrancy and the vulnerability of life, a candid and endearing love story.

An unforgettable demonstration of the power of art to connect, empathize and heal. [Full Review in Spanish]

American Symphony blends together two stories that could each warrant their own showcase, but it becomes something richer by demonstrating how they – and the two people at the film’s center – complement each other.