You See Me Laughin' (2002)

Synopsis: The glimpse afforded by director Mandy Stein's documentary into the world of four Mississippi bluesmen, who comprise the roster of Fat Possum Records, is a testament to a musical era that many consider passed. R.L. Burnside, the late Junior Kimbrough, Cedell Davis, and T-Model Ford, have... The glimpse afforded by director Mandy Stein's documentary into the world of four Mississippi bluesmen, who comprise the roster of Fat Possum Records, is a testament to a musical era that many consider passed. R.L. Burnside, the late Junior Kimbrough, Cedell Davis, and T-Model Ford, have lived the life commemorated in the music they play; from a lifetime of illness in Davis' case to Burnside's tragic family history, these men epitomize the blues, and relay their experiences here in both interviews and song. The story of Fat Possum's origins as a label founded on a shoestring budget by young white entrepreneur Matthew Johnson, using his college tuition money, is also heard, with intimations of the tension between the white label owners and black musicians. With excellent photography, including rare black and white footage of Burnside dating from 1974, the documentary paints a portrait of the turbulent lives these men have lived against a backdrop of poverty and privation. Testimonials and fascinating anecdotes are offered by such luminaries as Iggy Pop, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and U2's Bono. [More]