On a brisk autumn night in New York, NY, a limousine pulled up to the Angelika Theatre. One by one, the unassuming members of the elite funk ensemble Lettuce emerged on the scene, greeted by a handful of photographers and a crowd of adoring, diehard fans. It was their night, as the band’s documentary, Let Us Play, made its silver screen debut.
The anticipation in the theater was palpable, as crowds came eager to see what Let Us Play had in store. The band showed up in a limo, a present to the band from their management, and after taking a moment to pose with fans and friends alike on a green carpet, the group made their way into the theater, ready to witness themselves as stars of a feature film.
The one question on everyone’s mind was, of course, how the film would be able to capture such a dynamic musical force. In that regard, Let Us Play exceeded all expectations. Framed by the band’s studio sessions for the new album Crush, the film incorporated live footage, in-depth interviews, and so many candid moments and stories that were truly Lettuce. Certain examples come to mind, like Jesus Coomes’ 5 AM voicemail to Adam Smirnoff, or “Benny” Bloom’s impromptu song and dance routine. Even the band’s explanation of their own name made for an intimate display.
That intimacy derived from filmmaker Jay Sansone (Human Being) and his unique position with the band organized by Live For Live Music’s Kunj Shah. A brilliant director, Sansone was tasked with an opportunity to capture musicians that he truly respected with little to no budget on tour and in the studio. Through his persistence and passion, Sansone made the band seem comfortable and playful. There ended up being enough footage to create an amazing 38 minute documentary. The product speaks for itself, as the film was met by rounds of applause, many times over.Â
In the post-film Q&A session, Sansone was asked about his motivation for the film. The words “idolize” and “passion” were mentioned on multiple occasions.
Meanwhile, the band fielded some questions from enthusiastic audience members, ranging from thoughts on the documentary to the first time they saw themselves as professional musicians. The latter question made for the most organic moment, as each shared a unique story of how their life has been influenced by music.
All in all, Let Us Play was a smashing success. To get a taste of the film, check out the opening sequence below:
And a full gallery of photos from the event, courtesy of Patrick Hughes, can be seen below:
