The Groove is not Trivial, the independent, feature documentary about master fiddler Alasdair Fraser’s music and teaching will have two public screenings at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in July. The film follows Mr. Fraser’s personal journey to become a world-renowned standard bearer of the Scottish music tradition, along the way finding his musical and political voice.
Alasdair started out as a classical violin student in Clackmannan, Scotland, nurturing his curiosity about Scottish traditional music at a time when it was suppressed by the school system and culture at large. Through his time as a petro-chemical engineer with British Petroleum, to the moment he broke free to start his first Scottish fiddle camp in Santa Cruz, California, the film shows the journey of an extraordinarily gifted artist finding his way to living a joyful and meaningful life.
The film’s producer and director, Tommie Dell Smith, says that the film “tells a story of subversive empowerment through the arts. Through the entire seven years of making this film, I focused on lifting up the joy in the music and showing how Alasdair’s teaching transforms people’s lives. I hope this film gives audiences courage to live more fully, whatever the medium for their self-expression.”
The film had its world premiere at Mill Valley Film Festival in October where it garnered an Audience Favorite Award, and has since played to enthusiastic audiences at more film festivals in the US. The Edinburgh screenings will be the film’s International Premiere, with the filmmaker on hand for post-screening Q&A and discussion.
When: July 1 at 18:10, and July 2 at 13:15
Where: Odeon (Cinema 4), 5 Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EH1 2EP, UK
Tickets: https://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/2017/groove-not-trivial#booking-panel