Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser PG

One of the most fascinating music documentaries ever produced takes us into the life and mind of musical genius, Thelonious Monk. Filmed in candid cinéma vérité, director Charlotte Zwerin utilizes rare, raw footage shot by Christian and Michael Blackwood to capture the legendary jazz pianist during intimate rehearsals, recordings, and live performances.

The film presents an at times painfully honest account of an artist struggling with his demons. Shot between 1967 and 1968, this footage offers a remarkable insight into a 20th-century prodigy at his creative and artistic peak. An undeniable jazz masterclass featuring long, uninterrupted takes of Monk’s unique piano style, it is a profoundly human portrait of a true musical genius