Song Sung Blue (2008)

Those expecting pure kitschy fun might get knocked for a loop by Song Sung Blue. Though director Greg Kohs allows flashes of humor to shine through at key points, this documentary is actually a surprisingly serious and emotionally intense meditation on what it means to carry on with a dream when life deals out adversity to the dreamer. The tale of the Sardina family has twists and turns worthy of any Hollywood melodrama but said moments are never played for cheap melodrama. Instead, the viewer is shown the human cost of these moments of adversity up close and is allowed to see both the positive and negative aspects of the protagonists. Kohs offsets these moments of drama with more lighthearted segments that convey the joy the husband and wife duo takes in their music: the highlight is a fun segment where Eddie Vedder invites Lightning & Thunder to join them at a Pearl Jam concert and even steps on-stage to share a few verses of "Forever In Blue Jeans." Ultimately, Song Sung Blue is a very powerful film because it conveys both the pleasure and the considerable cost of pursuing a show-business dream. It is well worth a look for anyone fascinated by that subject. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide