Michael Obert's Song From The Forest tells the story of Louis Samo, an American man, who after hearing a song on the radio that spoke to him on a spiritual level, decides to venture deep into the Central African rainforest in search of the origin. Discovering the Bayaka Pygmies, a tribe of hunters and gathers, Louis Samo becomes infatuated with their culture, recording over a thousand hours of unique Bayaka music. Twenty-five years have passed, with Louis being a fully accepted member of the Bayaka society, living among them in the Central African rainforest. Making a promise to his young son, Samedi, that he would be introduced to his father's past life, Louis now heads back to New York City, introducing Samedi to another jungle of sorts, this one of concrete and asphault. Michael Obert's Song From The Forest is a profound, poetic, and layered examination of humanity, juxtaposing the big city lifestyle with the tranquil and simple lifestyle of the tribal people. Louis Samo is a man who found happiness in the lifestyle of the Bayaka Pygmies, finding solace in the simple tranquility of the forest and a civilization that must work in tandem, not in competition, to survive. Song From The Forest gives a detailed examination of a man who decided to change his life in such a drastic way, offering a portrait of a man in Louis who dreamed of being a composer from an early age. His love of music is what brought him into the forest originally, but what kept him there was the people, whose love of music is completely from a spiritual perspective, not at all concerned with accolades or recognition. What makes Song From The Forest such a great film though is it doesn't get too wrapped up in being a seething commentary on our financially driven society, its not judgemental at all, but rather an ode to the pursuit of happiness, urging everyone to not be afraid to do what makes them happy. Louis' son, Samedi, plays an important part in this examination, a boy who becomes himself infatuated with New York on arrival. Samedi provides a counterpoint to Louis need for a simplier life, being born in raised in a secluded tribe and finding his own type of awe-inspiring moment in the hustle and bustle of urban life. What makes this juxtaposition even more interesting, is how Song From the Forest effectively captures how similar all humans are, regardless of our extreme cultural differences. Michael Obert's Song From The Forest is a fascinating documentary about happiness, offering a powerful examination of the contrasting cultures.
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June 2023
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