Rachel
Flowers: Hearing Is Believing (2017/Gravitas Ventures Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B- Extras: B Film: B
The
heartwarming new documentary from award-winning filmmaker Lorenzo
DeStefano, Hearing Is Believing (2017), tells us about a very
talented young woman named Rachel Flowers, who is also visually
impaired. Her main talent and passion is playing music as she's a
singer, flute player, pianist, and guitarist.
This
enlightening story opens up with footage of her as a premature (and
very small) baby and her talent evident at two years old where she
was already playing Bach fugues on piano much to the amazement of her
family. We fast forward through her years as a young woman, where
she begins to focus more on singing and starts playing at her church
and the venues just keep getting bigger and bigger from there. Using
her music as the soundtrack, the film is an interesting portrait of a
young and emerging artist. The amazing thing about the film are all
of the people that Rachel touches with her music. One scene in
particular she plays piano in the middle of a grocery store to a huge
crowd of people who can't help but stop and listen. At the same
time, the film makes you think about what life would be like being
blind and some of the daily obstacles that she overcomes with the
power of her music.
The
film is shot on several different video formats and is presented in
1080p high definition with a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a
lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 sound mix. The music being the center point,
the mixing is done properly with clear audio throughout. There also
snippets of Miss Flowers being featured on 60 Minutes, home
movies, and other recordings of her throughout her life. Considering
the low budget of the production, the film doesn't look half bad on
Blu-ray disc surprisingly.
The
great musicians appearing with Rachel include Grammy winners Dweezil
Zappa, Arturo Sandoval, Stevie Wonder, Grammy nominated jazz pianist
Taylor Eigsti, the late Progressive Rock icon Keith Emerson, and 50
members of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony.
Special
Features...
Rachel
Writes/ Reads/ Sings Braille
Rachel
Flowers and Dan Flowers play Music Together
Vaughan
Flowers - Emerging Artist
Rachel
w/ Arturo Sandoval - ''My Funny Valentine''
Rachel
plays variations on the National Anthem
Rachel
Flowers and Ray Charles
Rachel
Flowers ''Magnolia'' by Taylor Eigsti
Rachel
Flowers in Concert
Rachel
Voice Lesson w/ Linda Ottsen
Rachel
Flowers plays 'Pictures' @ an Exhibition
Theatrical
Trailer
A
hit on the festival circuit, this inspiring true story will entertain
you and warm your heart simultaneously. This would also be a fine
film to show in a school or classroom.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
