Beat Keepers: The Next Chapter, 43min., Canada Directed by Cindy Goldberg A powerful and inspiring documentary that follows a group of talented female drummers as they unite for a life-changing three-day retreat in Dallas, Texas. Through the raw energy of rhythm, unwavering mutual support, and a shared passion for music, these women forge deep, lasting connections and celebrate the transformative power of music to heal, empower, and unite.
A powerful and inspiring documentary that follows a group of talented female drummers as they unite for a life-changing three-day retreat in Dallas, Texas. Through the raw energy of rhythm, unwavering mutual support, and a shared passion for music, these women forge deep, lasting connections and celebrate the transformative power of music to heal, empower, and unite.
Review by Julie Sheppard:
The documentary short, Beat Keepers, is subtitled Women With Rhythm which is, pardon the pun, bang on. We are introduced to a wide range of fascinating, diverse and talented women of all ages showing their true love for rhythm and drumming.
The film makes use of attractive CGI titles and framing throughout, often using pink hues in line with the fight against breast cancer. But it is hearing from the women themselves and their stories of survival, and their unity of sharing both a common love for drumming in conjunction with the fundraising event for breast cancer research, that makes this film so memorable.
This doc captures the vitality of the women present, even those virtually recorded, who show their skill for drumming, at various stages of experience, each with a slightly different style, from rapid fire rock to more chill and jazzy. The cinematography veers so close, you can almost feel the sticks hitting the drums. The camera also captures the sheer joy and excitement radiating off the faces of the drummers in action.
This project does an excellent job of elucidating the bias and discrimination that women have experienced over the years: being discouraged from drumming simply because they were women. Fortunately, this seems to be changing as women are getting far more confident to step up and play now, given groups such as this one. The 3-day drumming event has provided these women with an artistic outlet, but also the ability to release any challenges and frustrations that life has thrown at them, in a positive, productive manner.
Of course, given the thrust of the film, music is central and the recordings in the studio and outdoors are superb. When all is said and done, the viewer hopes that this will be a successful recurring event, and the beat will go on!
A powerful and inspiring documentary that follows a group of talented female drummers as they unite for a life-changing three-day retreat in Dallas, Texas. Through the raw energy of rhythm, unwavering mutual support, and a shared passion for music, these women forge deep, lasting connections and celebrate the transformative power of music to heal, empower, and unite.
Review by Victoria Angelique:
BEAT KEEPERS: THE NEXT CHAPTER is an amazing documentary about inspirational female drummers. The community of ladies come together in Dallas, Texas for not only training women interested in drumming, but a weekend of support.
The women that make up Beat Keepers come from various backgrounds, yet it doesn’t deter them. The time they come together is more than just classes and performing, it’s about sisterhood. Many of the women have a solid connection of being breast cancer survivors. This weekend is about lifting each other up and enjoying the company of their fellow drummers. They don’t judge the backgrounds of the women that come to take the course or perform in the Breast Cancer Can Stick It! Drummathon. They simply have fun and inspire music.
Beat Keepers have become a family of women from across multiple locations. They accept drummers that have been performing for a short time or their entire lives, the whole point is to lift each other up within their musical family. They fly out to Dallas to join in this weekend and for the women that can’t, they still manage to include them so that they know they are still a part of this remarkable sisterhood. According to the documentary, only about 10% of drummers are female. This makes the need for community that much more important as without support of their fellow women, someone might become discouraged.
BEAT KEEPERS: THE NEXT CHAPTER is an inspirational story of sisterhood and music. Everyone should have a community like these remarkable women.
Festival Reviews 