A Rubberband is an Unlikely Instrument

Set in the ever-humming cityscape of New York, A Rubberband is an Unlikely Instrument journeys through the mundane and the extraordinary, the personal and the universal, the discordant and the harmonious. The 2011 feature is a rare emotion-driven documentary fiction that pulls you through an unlikely exploration of the urban landscape. It presents a snapshot of life where art, struggle, love, and identity intermesh to create a beautiful tapestry of the human experience.

The film centers on the life of an eccentric Southern gentle giant, Walter Baker, a deconstruction contractor turned street musician in New York City. His unique talent? He makes an unassuming, nondescript rubber band into an unlikely instrument. The entrancing sounds from his unconventional instrument, a mere oversized rubber band stretched innocently around his face, grip spectators and passersby in the city, eluding stereo-typical cacophonies or conventions.

His wife, Andrea Baker, herself an interdisciplinary artist, plays the other protagonist. Together, they personify the struggle and exhilaration of pursuing personal freedom through art. The volatility of the artistic passion blurs the lines between joy and sofa-surfing poverty.

The story is a captivating blend of various themes. It explores the myriad dimensions of human expressions and life itself. It ventures into the labryinth of Walter's identity crisis, catalyzed by the imminence of fatherhood. It conveys the human quest for security and stability, while constantly being drawn towards novelty and adventure. It explores the inherent tension between the need for collateral societal approval and the lure of personal artistic rebellion.

Walter's passionate attachment to his work is palpable, and the raw emotion he presents through his music is incredibly moving. Every vibrating note from the rubber band reflects his internal turmoil, and the joy of unrestrained creativity. Walter's life might be a financial struggle, but his spirit, fueled by his passion, doesn't capitulate; on the contrary, it echoes in every mellifluous rubberband tune he generates on the city streets.

The complementary doubled-edged narrative involving Andrea Baker provides an engaging counterpoint to Walter's story. As they negotiate the trials of marriage, impending parenthood and uncertain professional futures, we witness the hopes and anxieties of two artists caught in their need to create.

Resonating through these personal, intimate stories, the film also manages to capture the larger socio-cultural contexts. From the remarkably broad spectrum of NYC street life, encounters with shifting urban attitudes to street performance, to the financial crisis of 2008 and its impact on ordinary lives, it weaves these broader themes subtly into the narrative.

The film offers an aesthetic treat too. A Rubberband is an Unlikely Instrument is cinematically brilliant with its atmospheric sophistication, the play of light and shade, the close-ups, and the wider cityscape shots. Every frame encapsulates visceral verism that hits right on the emotional spectrum of the viewer. The music, mostly performed by the Bakers themselves, reverberates through the film and gives it a unique pulse.

Directed by Matt Boyd, the movie leaves no stone unturned in showcasing an immersive and intimate exploration into a couple's life. Completed in a span of seven years, the lovingly crafted detailing and the raw honesty offered by A Rubberband is an Unlikely Instrument is revolutionary. The movie is composed like a personal essay, unfolding as a kind of improvised piece of jazz that’s filled with dissonance and harmony.

Filmed in documentary style, A Rubberband is an Unlikely Instrument rollicks along at a pace that is every bit as dynamic and unpredictable as its characters. It mystifies, mesmerises and moves you. It compels you to introspect about the nature of art, freedom, identity and the significance of following one's passion.

This is not just another movie about everyday life. It's a convergence of reality and dreams, the enchanting symphony of life’s everyday sounds: some discordant, some harmonious, all vital in composing the melody of existence.

In conclusion, A Rubberband is an Unlikely Instrument is a tour de force of indie filmmaking. It's a poignant tribute to the resilience and creative spirit of artists and offers an intimate portrait of an extraordinary couple navigating the challenges of everyday life while staying true to their artistic passions amidst urban chaos.