Cultural Enhancement Series

The tradition of jazz funerals has been a deep-rooted part of New Orleans culture for decades, and the tradition is explored in the independent documentary “City of a Million Dreams.”

The film was directed by journalist and filmmaker Jason Berry and was shown Thursday evening at the Capitol as part of Potter College of Arts & Letters’ Southern Circuit of Independent Filmmakers.  

The documentary, as well as Berry’s book of the same name, explores the history of jazz funerals through the lenses of musician Michael White and writer Deborah Cotton.

The documentary explores the origins of jazz funerals that started in the 18th century. New Orleans was home to many enslaved people who would gather together on Sundays to perform music and dances from their home countries, according to the movie. The film shows how the tradition evolved over many years and eras with its past and future rooted in New Orleans’ black community.

“The spirit of this goes all the way back to Africa,” White said.

The film’s showing was followed by a question and answer session with the film’s editor, Tim Watson, who talked about the film’s structure and editing.

“[The movie] is character-driven instead of plot-driven,” Watson said.

The film uses excerpts from Cotton’s book, “Notes from New Orleans,” and her video blogs about moving to the city. Watson said they decided to use Cotton’s insights in the editing room to connect the audience to the city.

“It was insight that we were not getting from anyone else,” Watson said. “So we ended up choosing, I don’t know, eight or ten passages that are spread throughout the film and the insight was perfect.”

Cotton died in 2017 after the documentary was already deep into production. 

“When she died, no one expected that,” Watson said. “She had been working with us in the edit room and been so kind to share so much of her stuff with us.”

Cotton often appears in the film both in interviews and through readings of her articles read by her best friend. 

“Having Andrea read those after her best friend died, that was rough, but she did it.” Watson said. “She really wanted to do it, and she pulled it off.

Cotton professed her love of New Orleans throughout the documentary and devoted her career to documenting the city’s culture.

“New Orleans is that place, the motherland,” Cotton said. “Once New Orleans is in your blood, no other city will do.”

“City of a Million Dreams” premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival in Florida and has been making the rounds at independent screenings. Watson said they are hoping to get the film on streaming platforms in 2025.

News Reporter Malone Farmer can be reached at james.farmer674@topper.wku.edu.