Our Song

A low-budget, low-income slice-of-life movie oozing with community atmosphere and authentic affinity, writer-director Jim McKay's Our Song came and went from local art house theaters in a New York minute. But it deserves a longer life on VHS and DVD. Simply but vividly portraying the largely uneventful dog days of summer for three project-dwelling teenage girls who perform in Brooklyn's famous youth marching band, The Jackie Robinson Players, the film scores such supremely natural performances from its trio of unknown stars (Kerry Washington, Anna Simpson, and Melissa Martinez) that you feel as if you're eavesdropping on their lives. Especially noteworthy is Washington's performance as Lanisha: she is so credible as a 15-year-old that it's hard to believe the actress (who was Sean Patrick Thomas' savvy, street-smart sister in Save the Last Dance) was actually 22 when the film was shot. Recommended. (R. Blackwelder)