The Socalled Movie

Directed by Garry Beitel

Release Year: 2010
Running time: 88
Country: U.S.
Language: English and French with English subtitles
Subjects: Music
$7.99 - Classroom Rights
MSRP: $24.98
$349.00 - With PPR
Screening Request
Directed by: Garry Beitel
Cast: Josh Dolgin

Socalled, aka Josh Dolgin, is the most supreme klezmer hip-hop funk artist in the world. A pianist, singer, rapper, accordion player, and magician, he's a demented Renaissance man and a multi-cultural mixmaster. THE SOCALLED MOVIE is a kaleidoscopic portrait which compiles 18 short films that display his electrifying craft and deep-rooted sense of history. Combining traditional Yiddish songs with funk, rap and everything in between, his tunes are densely layered tapestries of dizzying complexity.

His encounters with legendary trombonist Fred Wesley (a key member of James Brown's bands) and klezmer hero David Krakauer are revelatory meetings of the mind, while his re-discovery of pianist Irving Fields turns the elder statesman into a YouTube phenomenon. With offbeat wit, intimacy and virtuoso performances, THE SOCALLED MOVIE is an enthralling documentary that shows how music can break down the boundaries that divide our world.

Reviews

"An enthralling, inspring MC." - Time Out NY

"Socalled comes in and blows even the most jaded music listener's preconceived notions to smithereens." - PopMatters