Buckjumping

Buckjumping is a profound 2018 documentary film that takes you on an intimate journey through the vibrant and distinctive dance culture of New Orleans. Driven by the compelling narration of actress and Big Chief, Ausettua AmorAmenkum, supported by a variegated cast including hip hop artist Mannie Fresh and bounce music pioneer D.J. Jubilee, the movie offers an immersive experience of a century-old tradition persisting in the heart of a modern American city.

The documentary, set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans, is a meditative exploration of a city's history told through its dynamic dance styles. It captures the true essence of the city, as it skips across dance groups that span from Mardi Gras Indians to high school marching bands, and from street dancers to the second-line societies found only in the Crescent City.

The title Buckjumping refers to one of the many dance styles native to New Orleans, which forms the heart and soul of this intimate visual narrative. These movements are deeply entrenched in the social, historical, and cultural fabric of the city. They express joy and shared camaraderie, moments of sadness and despair, resilience in the face of adversity, and above all a prevailing spirit of survival and rebirth.

As the film directs its lens onto each dance artist, it becomes more than a examination of a city's dance culture. Buckjumping morphs into an ode to human spirit and resilience, a chronicle of a city thriving steadfastly, as it immortalizes and celebrates the vibrant dance forms that are integral to the lifeblood of New Orleans.

A key figure in this documentary, Ausettua AmorAmenkum, is a powerhouse of tradition and cultural preservation in herself. As a Big Chief of the Washitaw Nation Mardi Gras Indians and leader of Kumbuka African drum and dance ensemble, AmorAmenkum serves not just as a narrator but as an inspiring character that brings to life the profound significance of these cultural practices. Her insights and experiences reveal ripple effects of historical echoes, the enduring legacy they carry through each rhythmic move, enhancing the organic tone and depth to the documentary.

The movie also features Mannie Fresh, the highly accomplished music producer and DJ, and D.J Jubilee, often dubbed the godfather of bounce, who add to the sonic and visual tapestry of the movie. Both artists who have used their significant influence to embed the unique New Orleanian spirit into pop culture, contribute to an soundtrack that is as much a character in the movie as the dancers and the city themselves.

Directed by Lily Keber, Buckjumping takes a keen and thoughtful approach to the myriad dance styles that have burst from the heart of New Orleans. The lyrical cinematography showcases the dances with energy, style and authenticity, reflecting this melting pot city in all its diversity. Painstaking care is taken to highlight not just the physical movements, but the narratives, the emotions and the very essence that these dances encapsulate.

One isn't merely watching dance sequences, they are effectively stepping into a popular street parade, or a high-spirited high school marching band, or a passionate Mardi Gras procession. The documentary triumphs by taking non-native audience members on this exploration, while providing a platform of recognition for native New Orleanians.

Overall, Keber's Buckjumping is not merely a collection of beautifully captured dance sequences. It is a vivid canvas giving voice to an unfiltered, pure exploration of a city's history, an artistic epiphany, resonating in each step taken, each tune played and each tale narrated. This engaging film proffers a palpable portrait of New Orleans not only through insightful interviews and soulful dances, but also through the city’s legendary community resilience, post-Katrina struggle, and relentless renewal.

Buckjumping is thus a heartfelt tribute to dance as a form of communal celebration, individual expression and poignant storytelling in a city steeped in diverse traditions. The movie leaves a lasting impact on its viewers, practically reverberating with the joyous beats, the cultural richness, and the human spirit personified in the city of New Orleans.