Educational Media Reviews Online

"Music is the last true voice of the human spirit. It can go beyond language, beyond age and beyond color … straight to the heart and mind of all people." This quote comes from Ben Harper, popular musician and protagonist of the film Pleasure and Pain. Don't be concerned if you've never heard of Ben Harper, because this movie serves as his biography. There are Ben's thoughts on music, the music business, music journalists and the fans. There are also the reactions of family, fans, band members, music agents, tour managers, and the stage crew to Ben himself. Ben Harper's musical style can be best described as eclectic. His influences include Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley. His band members come from funk, Latin, jazz and rock backgrounds. Ben plays all number of string instruments, but his favorite seems to be a special hollow-necked acoustic slide guitar that contains 2 electronic pickups. This allows him to easily move from traditional bottleneck blues to loud and raw hard rock with the turn of a dial and the flick of a switch. His lyrics are of a very personal nature, along the lines of Dylan, Joni Mitchell or Tori Amos.

The movie comprises many scenes from Ben's life. There's life on a tour bus and the daily experience of giving concerts and interacting with fans. In fact, touring is the way that Ben made his following. This is illustrated in the following way. During his concert, Ben stopped to ask the crowd how many of them had first heard of him through a music video. There was minimal applause. Next he asked them how many had first heard of him from the radio. Again there was some response. Finally he asked them how many had first heard of him from a friend. This time the applause was overwhelming. Ben Harper had made a name for himself by continuously playing and meeting people. Whether he is playing in small coffee shops around LA or touring throughout the world, Ben always has time to visit with the fans.

Then there are the scenes of his family life. Ben grew up in his grandparent's music store, and learned both playing and instrument repair there. Both his grandmother and mother played guitar, while his father (who had abandoned the family while he was still young) was a drummer and a poet. Some of the most touching images from Pleasure and Pain include Ben's duets with his mother over an old Dylan song. As he states on camera, playing with his mother was one of the greatest experiences of his life.

Technically, the film has an "independent documentary" feel. The combination of spontaneous "real life" color sequences and crafted black and white introspective scenes create an amateurish, intimate feel in the way that only a true professional can. Directors Danny Clinch and Sam Lee are good at what they do, and they have made a very enjoyable film. Whether you're a devoted Ben Harper fan or have never heard of him, Pleasure and Pain offers a wonderful look into the daily life of a working musician, and is recommended for high school students and older.