LIFE. SUPPORT. MUSIC
Written, Produced & Directed by Eric Daniel Metzgar
Released by Merigold Moving Pictures
USA. 79 min. Not Rated
With Norah Jones, Marshall Crenshaw & Teddy Thompson 
 

Jason Crigler was an in-demand guitarist and songwriter with a newly pregnant wife when, one night in 2004, he suffered a brain hemorrhage while onstage. At first, doctors were unsure whether he would even survive the night, and if he did, they suspected he might live but without memory or the ability to communicate or move. Later, other doctors felt it was highly unlikely he would recover without 24-hour care; the idea of Jason walking, let alone speaking, seemed like the stuff of dreams.

Eric Daniel Metzgar’s documentary, Life. Support. Music. focuses on the nonstop support of his family and the music community, using a combination of home movies, still photos, and extensive talking-head interviews. Metzgar also provides occasional voice-over narration, which, in terms of prose quality, can be a bit cringeworthy. However, his management of the visuals and pacing gives the film an almost mystery-like feeling, where you’re not at all sure how it’s all going to turn out and want to stay around to find out.

Metzgar also benefits from Jason’s very articulate, involved, and aware family, who provide much of the context. One of Jason’s doctors, who originally not had much hope for Jason’s recovery, points out that having such a devoted family who provided such care and attention undoubtedly contributed to his recovery. (It’s incredible, by the way, to realize that Monica, Jason’s wife, goes through almost an entire pregnancy, gives birth, and deals with a newborn, while under the stress of overseeing Jason’s rehab—and working full-time.) His family members note that along the way, they sometimes saw other patients who didn’t have any support, and I shudder to think what happened to them. Kirsten Anderson
February 5, 2009