Bleeding Hearts

Zella Day and Jesse Woods fell quickly and passionately in love, just like the lyrics of a classic country tune. Joined by musical collaborator Beau Bedford, they formed the alternative country band Chaparelle, a vibrant and harmonious trio. Over the course of a year, filmmaker Andrew Morgan captures their journey, shooting in black and white with vintage lenses to create a timeless visual language. We watch as they launch themselves as independent artists without the backing of a record label, pouring their hearts and souls into their debut album, Western Pleasure. Jesse explains the music as “a clever way of talking about a feeling that everyone has had, but explaining it in a way that you’ve never thought of before.”

This candid portrait doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of maintaining a relationship while making music. There’s enough professional and personal complications to fill a story arc of Nashville. Zella has the extrovert charisma of a rising star and is receiving music industry offers to pivot to a solo career. Jesse, 12 years older, is more introverted, facing a midlife crossroads on how to adapt himself to show business. Beau is giving up other opportunities to make Chaparelle work while friends question if that’s a good idea. Offstage can be chaotic. But when Zella and Jesse get on-stage together, the chemistry is as potent as any movie stars. Music documentaries are plentiful these days, but this one soars high above the rest.

THOM POWERS