Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music (2022)

2022 BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!

Music is something that has the power to propel us forward, the power to sadden us, to raise us up–it’s something that we all have in common. Whether or not you like the same music as others, you understand that the music you listen to has the ability to change your mood and have a profound effect on you. Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music looks at this aspect of the beauty of music and allows fans of musical acts to present their stories and tell the world what music means to them. Fans and artists don’t always have the opportunity to meet one another, but Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music allows them to come together and discuss how important one is to the other.

Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music takes a unique journey through the titular power of music, one that I’ve never seen before. Documentaries often include the focus of the overall subject matter. For example: in a docuseries about Michael Jordan, he is the focus–but Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music doesn’t place the focus on the musical artists that have been so influential. In this case viewers see the people directly affected by the music, and those fans get to express to the world, maybe for the first time, the real effect that music (and their favorite artists) have had on them. This sort of journey makes the subject feel a bit more real and visceral, because it’s people like you and me expressing their experiences with music.

This is one of the simplest documentaries that I’ve ever seen. I believe that part of the simplicity comes from the fact that things were recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some aspects of filmmaking just weren’t available at the time. However, it also feels that Writer, Director, and Producer Kathleen Ermitage had planned to create an incredibly simplistic film that allowed viewers to hear, point blank, the many stories of all involved. That simplicity is inviting–there are no frills to speak of, and viewers are effectively invited into the narratives of each and every person on screen. Throughout those narratives present in Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music viewers can feel the emotion, they can feel how important the music is to the individuals on screen–and it’s touching. The power of what these individuals tell the world is riveting, and if you weren’t aware of the importance of music, you will understand after watching Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: sometimes it’s difficult to know whether or not you make an impact in the world–and knowing your own worth can sometimes be something that many people struggle with. Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music presents these fans of music to meet the individuals who have made a difference in their lives, and the world has the opportunity to hear, first hand, how we all have the ability to have an impact on others. The entirety of Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music is touching, relatable, and heartfelt–but it is in these moments that viewers feel the full force of what is occurring, and it’s of massive importance.

Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music is a powerful documentary, but it doesn’t do much (other than present the world with a powerful message) for the viewer. Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music is a relevant film that touches on the importance of music and the ways in which we can make a difference in the world–but it’s ultimately slow moving. With multiple stories overlapping one another, becoming intertwined throughout the course of Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music, it sometimes becomes difficult to fully invest in each story–as they sort of step on one another, and I lost interest from time to time as the film progressed. The film is certainly relevant, but it’s sometimes difficult to fully absorb what Ermitage develops. Having to dig through the many stories can feel like a bit of a chore, but in the grand scheme of the film, I’m sure that everyone will find something to appreciate.

Written & Directed by Kathleen Ermitage.

Starring Amy Ray, Emily Saliers, Vijay Iyer, Talib Kweli, Dylan Yellowlees, etc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10