Ryan McNeil
In Toronto’s inner city, Thompson Egbo-Egbo has started an Arts Foundation that looks to instil a positive change and a sense of self worth into elementary school students. Much of this is done by getting the students to express themselves through music. We get a sometimes sad, but ultimately moving look at their work through Juan Baquero’s film LISTEN TO THIS.
There’s something truly touching about watching expressive artistic talent spew forth from an unexpected source. Some of the children in the program seem at first to be shrinking violets or bad seeds acting out. Such qualities might cause lesser teachers to not believe in them enough to dig deeper. However, we discover all these students need is a little bit of space, some encourgaement. Once they get that, hand them a blank page or a backbeat and prepare to be amazed.
While making music becomes a large part of these children’s lives, it isn’t everything…and the film reminds us of that in a moment that will startle the hell out of you. This is a certainty, since it visually startles the hell out of both Egbo-Egbo and Stokes (another instructor) as the scene plays out. We become so charged with watching these students grow more confident and more creative, that it’s easy to forget that they live in one of the worst parts of the city. In a way, moments like that make one ask “Why keep making music?”. But moments like that are also the answer – since the singing and composition offers these children the life skills they need to hopefully one day move up and move out from an unsavoury community.
LISTEN TO THIS is a bittersweet story that inspires. It gives you hope that even amidst the worst circumstances, a child can be taught to tap into their inner strength, and to learn that the sky truly is the limit.
Official website for LISTEN TO THIS
LISTEN TO THIS plays again on Sunday May 9th – 4:30pm at The Royal.