American Symphony: A Review
Nov. 30. 2023
American Symphony documents how creative, spiritual, and public personalities like Jon and Suleika face Life’s interruptions; how such moments are perceived, received, and accepted as Blessing and inspiration to create Beauty in praise of and in Gratitude for the moments we are gifted on this Earth. The documentary disrupts all kinds of cultural assumptions and expectations about illness, about creativity, about crises: illness as something to be hidden; creativity as a solo endeavor (vs collaboration with other creatives). In Jon and Suleika’s story, crisis becomes an invitation to build community and make Art. Make a Life.
American Symphony disrupts notions of canonicity implied by the word “symphony”. Jon expands it to include his own influences as a Black artist. (This wasn’t mentioned in the documentary but I did read somewhere that he was once kicked out of Juilliard because of his insistence on stepping out of the canon; now he is invited back to Juilliard to sit on the board). The Tide is turning.
Jon’s christian faith is unapologetic, doesn’t proselytize, and still it manages to convey a kindness, generosity, and trust that is shaped by his daily spiritual practice. Once in a while he makes a public declaration but it’s always done without self-righteousness. I appreciate how his walk of faith makes him walk in Beauty. His and Suleika’s life shows us an openness to Life that is not burdened by worldly ambition for fame and fortune. I think this is how Art becomes Medicine.
In the documentary, selected scenes of Suleika’s illness are not heavy-handed. It feels like they were just enough to show vulnerable moments, tender moments — usually quiet and sometimes wordless. Those were the moments that made me teary eyed. Grief touches the ground of our Being…with profound Joy.
“We are born the same” — is resonant with a confident Blackness that takes up and creates space for itself without having to explain or rationalize or cater to White tastes. I specially took note of the inclusion of the indigenous musicians (what tribe?) in creating the symphony. There was the part of the symphony where subtitles said Jon was “vocalizing” but what it felt like to me was the Wailing of black and brown bodies at the shipwreck of native genocide and slavery. How powerful that moment was! It seeped into my bones!
Thank you, Suleika and Jon, for giving Matthew Heineman permission to do this film. Thank you for including us in your Circle. I am so inspired now to keep creating Beauty. Love to You.
