Born to Be Blue
VIEW EVENT DETAILSArts and Culture
Written and Directed by Robert Budreau / Starring Ethan Hawke, Carmen Ejogo, Callum Keith Rennie / 97 min / English
Evening Screening
Drinks Reception6:30pm
Screening 7:00pm
Close 9:00pm
This film is classified as category III and suitable for persons aged 18 and above only.
Born to Be Blue was selected as one of the 30 Best Jazz Movies in history by Martin Clinton, of the Telegraph. It explores not only the musical differences of the '50s and '60s but also how ideas of love and marriage evolved through the '60s.
The film’s narrative covers the mid-1960s, beginning with Chet Baker filming his own story, and ending with his comeback at Birdland, the famous jazz club in New York City. The story also explores the mid-50s, which Ethan Hawke describes as an offering, “a dream aesthetic,” that was realized through the expressionist black and white treatment for this era.
In his real life, Chet Baker left America in the late 1950s because his drug problems meant he couldn’t get a Cabaret Card. He fled to Europe where he was embraced as the famous jazz junkie, but he soon got in trouble again using heroin or prescription-replacements (Palfium) for heroin. He spent years in prisons all across Europe, was extradited from Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and other countries before finally being shipped back to America in the mid-1960s. When Baker returned to America, the country had changed and this is represented in the film when Baker first meets his old manager and producer Dick Bock on the set of the "Chet Baker Story" movie that’s being filmed. Bockremarks, “A lot has changed since you left. Jazz is dying... Dylan went electric.”
Chronological Songlist in the Film:
1. Let's Get Lost | (arrangement) |
2. Ko-Op | (original – David Braid) |
3. Haitian Fight Song | (soundtrack – Charlie Mingus) |
4. Belle Ami | (soundtrack) – Aaron Neville) |
5. Ruthie Mae | (soundtrack – Percy Mayfield) |
6. Once Away | (original – David Braid and strings) |
7. Blue Me | (soundtrack – Arnett Cobb) |
8. Bowling Alley Boogie | (original – David Braid) |
9. Go Down Sunshine | (soundtrack – Odetta) |
10. Summertime | (arrangement) |
11. Blue Room (inst) | (arrangement) |
12. Tequila Earworm | (original – David Braid) |
13. Blue Room (vocal) | (Ethan Hawke) |
14. Small Hotel | (arrangement) |
15. Could Have Been | (original – David Braid and Strings) |
16. Over the Rainbow | (arrangement) |
17. My Funny Valentine | (arrangement – Ethan Hawke) |
18. I’ve Never Been in Love Before | (arrangement – Ethan Hawke) |
This movie screening is part of the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival's program
Co-presented with
Click here for more upcoming events