Edith Butler- Daughter of the Wind and Acadie

Date Viewed: 12/07/2009
Source: National Film Board of Canada
http://www.nfb.ca/film/edith_butler_daughter_of_the_wind/
Title: Edith Butler- Daughter of the Wind and Acadie
Artist: Directed by Monique LeBlanc

Summary: This six minute video was a tribute to Edith Butler, French singer and performer. It includes footage of her live performances and interviews from her friends and colleagues. It covers forty years of musical performance, from the black and white films of her early career to the large, sold-out concerts she plays now.

Response: Analyzing the way the film was made, I really like the equal arrangements of interviews and performance footage. I also noticed that with the live footage, Edith was normally in the center of the frame, but the interviews had her friends either on the left or right side of the frame. This created an interesting effect, as if they were stepping to the side to further spotlight Edith. I have never heard of Edith Butler before, but watching this short video gives me the feeling that she is a much-loved performer with lots of energy and enthusiasm. I like her “Acadie” style, blending folk and native music together with use of simple instruments like drums and the steel triangle. I agree with Bill Langstroth that her energy transcends language and becomes something we can all understand and appreciate, even if we don’t know what she’s saying.