Ballou

In many Washington, D.C. neighborhoods—plagued by teenage pregnancy, poverty, high unemployment, and alarming school dropout rates—optimism is often in short supply, which makes the achievements of the Ballou Senior High School marching band even more important, remarkable, and inspiring. Led by band director Darrell Watson, the Ballou marching Knights have acquired a national reputation for style and quality, winning numerous competitions over the years. Michael Patrei's Ballou looks at how band members and flag girls overcome obstacles (instruments held together by duct tape, lack of air conditioning in the band room, etc.) as the Knights continue to strut their stuff at games and on the streets of Washington, working towards a national competition in Birmingham, AL. Along the way, Ballou captures band leader Watson's hands-on tough-love approach, while also highlighting some of the challenges faced by the students, ranging from self esteem issues for an overweight girl struggling to become a flag girl, to a boy who must juggle the responsibilities of schoolwork, band practice, and caregiving at home. Ultimately, Ballou is just as much about finding a “family outside your home” and reaching for dreams, as it is about musical chops and band choreography. Buttressed by testimony from Colin Powell and Jesse Jackson, Ballou is an inspiring, well-made documentary. DVD extras include an audio commentary, extended interviews, and deleted scenes. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)