Soldato Selects
Words by Orlando Callegari Jr.
Music at the Movies!
Soldato Selects is a film series comprised of concert films and music documentaries. Curated by Larry Fried, the films are a mix of both contemporary and classic musical, and music-related, cinema.
When asked about the distinct position these movies occupy, Fried illuminates the gap that concert films fill. “While concerts are always a fun experience on their own, there is always a hunger to be as close to the music as possible, to absorb it in a way that moves you. That's what a concer…l—,,t film does; it presents the same music but with camera composition and immersive sound editing that not only gives more detail to the performance but can evoke ideas that go beyond just the music.”
Fried’s series joins together the best of the best when it comes to music-related films. From classics of the genre such as the Bob Dylan concert tour film “Don’t Look Back” and the festival film “Monterey Pop” to the more recent, and heartbreaking, doc “Amy”, every movie delivers a unique cinematic and sonic experience.
With such a strong selection, picking favorites becomes it’s own challenge.
“…it's hard not to mention Stop Making Sense and The Last Waltz, two films that are widely considered the gold standard of the genre and that we are honored to present to Williams Center audiences. However, I was eager to program lesser-known films as well to provide a multi-faceted experience with the genre; films like The Kids Are Alright, which is an incredibly fun look at the early days of The Who, to Gogol Bordello Non-Stop, which follows the rise of gypsy punk outfit Gogol Bordello, may not be as familiar to people but make for just as memorable cinematic experiences,” says Fried.
Although Soldato Selects will change from a weekly format to event based, Fried is excited for future collaborations. “I myself am eager to program some other concert films in the future from artists such as LCD Soundsystem, Elvis Presley, The Indigo Girls, Prince, and many others, so you can rest assured Soldato Selects will remain a recurring Cinema Underground banner series year-round.”
Soldato Selects films are playing Mondays through August at 6:00pm and 8:00pm.
The Last Waltz – September 2nd
