About the Film
Famous the world over, jazz funerals have origins shrouded in mystery. Filmed over twenty-two years, City of a Million Dreams explores race relations at a tearing time in American society. Burial traditions train a lens on the unique and resilient culture of New Orleans. City of a Million Dreams draws from the 2018 book of the same title by Jason Berry.
Deb Cotton, an African American and observant Jew, leaves “hard-hearted Hollywood” for New Orleans, and becomes a chronicler of the parading clubs spawned by 19th century burial societies. Her zeal for the city grows as she becomes a blogger for Gambit Weekly, adopting the handle “Big Red Cotton.” As Deb explores her adopted culture, Dr. Michael White, a prolific clarinetist and New Orleans native, plays “the widow’s wail” on his clarinet, a cry of lamentation in the funeral marches.
White’s transcendent music also includes joyous peals for the soul’s cutting-loose, which happens when the band leaves the cemetery, followed by dancers in what New Orleanians call “the second line.” Risen in the ranks of brass bands, White, too, is on a journey of self-discovery, seeking clues about his ancestor who played at the dawn of jazz. White says of jazz funerals: “For someone dealing with American racism and trying to figure out your place in this life…you can be transformed into another world that really sets you free.”
Reviews
“Tragedy and comedy, life and death: these are the poles between which the events and people in this film move, with the good and the bad often inseparable.. For anyone who loves the place, this film will enhance your understanding. For anyone curious about New Orleans, it’s a fantastic place to start.”
– Malcolm Jones, The Daily Beast
“Yes, funerals — as in the famous joint expressions of mourning and celebration that feature “second line” dance marches to mark the joy of a soul’s ascent into heaven. As director Berry shows, those ceremonies have extraordinarily complex roots and meanings. What his documentary does, lovingly and in mesmerizingly watchable fashion, is explore the African American culture from which jazz funerals evolved — and how the funerals epitomize the soul and resilience of the Crescent City perpetually endangered by storms, floods, fires, coastal erosion, and diseases such as Yellow Fever.”
– Quin Hillyer, The Washington Examiner
In the News
Railyard Films and 100 Men Hall present City of a Million Dreams Dinner/Movie/Concert
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2023 Bay Saint Louis, MS – The 100 Men Hall invites the public [...]
Jason Berry’s ‘City of a Million Dreams’ documentary illuminates New Orleans jazz funerals
Jason Berry's 'City of a Million Dreams' documentary illuminates New Orleans jazz funerals The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate [...]
‘City Of A Million Dreams’ To Receive Special Event Screenings In Santa Fe & Albuquerque
Acclaimed Filmmaker’s Documentary Tribute To New Orleans Jazz Funerals, ‘City Of A Million Dreams’ To Receive Special Event Screenings In [...]
Jason Berry’s ‘City of a Million Dreams,’ exploring history of second lines, opens at Broad Theater
Jason Berry's 'City of a Million Dreams,' exploring history of second lines, opens at Broad Theater Gambit Weekly By Will [...]
The saints go marching in
The saints go marching in Santa Fe New Mexican By Michael Abatemarco, Staff Writer Passionate about his native city, New [...]
Jazz Journalists Association honor mother-daughter culture bearers in New Orleans
Jazz Journalists Association honor mother-daughter culture bearers in New Orleans OffBeat Magazine Two New Orleanians will be honored with Jazz [...]
New film offers a portrait of New Orleans, told through its unique jazz funerals
New film offers a portrait of New Orleans, told through its unique jazz funerals The Washington Post Religion By Mark Silk | Religion [...]
‘City Of A Million Dreams’ Fulfills 25-Year Documentary Quest For Jason Berry
'City Of A Million Dreams’ Fulfills 25-Year Documentary Quest For Jason Berry "The metaphor slowly came to me that the [...]
Events
Book Release Events for City of a Million Dreams: New Orleans at 300:
March 2021: Melba’s Eat and Read
Saturday January 19, 2019: Politics and Prose in Washington D.C.
Saturday, December 8, 2018: The Historic New Orleans Collection
Friday, December 4, 2018: Speaker Series at Metairie Park Country Day School
Tuesday Nov. 20, 2018: The Page and Pallet in Fairhope, Alabama
Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018: Words and Music Festival at the Renaissance Hotel
Friday, Nov. 16: Lecture, book signing, and documentary footage preview at Friday Nights at NOMA
Thursday Nov. 15, 2018: 4:15pm at The Words and Music Festival at the Renaissance Hotel in New Orleans, with Dr. Michael White,
followed by a signing at the East Jefferson Public Library
Wednesday Nov.14, 2018: Octavia Books in New Orleans
Tuesday Nov. 13, 2018: Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans
Sunday Nov. 11, 2018: Conundrum Books in St. Francisville
Saturday Nov.10, 2018: The Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge