American Symphony

2023 • Movie • 18,007 views

Drama

Overview

American Symphony is a 2023 documentary film directed by Matthew Heineman, following the musician Jon Batiste as he composes a symphony. Batiste is a Grammy-winning musician, best known as the bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The film follows Batiste as he composes his "American Symphony," a piece that blends classical music with jazz, blues, gospel, and other American musical traditions. The film also follows Batiste's personal life: his wife, the writer Suleika Jaouad, is diagnosed with leukemia. The film is a meditation on art, love, and mortality. It is a portrait of a creative genius at work, and a love story between two artists. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.