Spotlight on Richie Adams – Baton Rougean returns to show new film at LIFF

Una Vida: A Fable of Music and the Mind will make its Louisiana premiere Sunday at noon as part of the Louisiana International Film Festival at Cinemark Perkins Rowe. Purchase tickets here.

Richie Adams began work on his latest film more than five years ago while working on a commercial for the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. There, he met Dr. Nicolas Bazan, who was working on a book titled Una Vida: A Fable of Music and the Mind.

Bazan’s story focuses on a renowned neuroscientist, Dr. Alvaro Cruz, who comes across a New Orleans street musician named Una Vida who has Alzheimer’s. Cruz’s mother had suffered from the disease as well, and he has dedicated his life to trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. In getting to know Vida, Cruz sees how music provides a different type of therapy for patients. Adams was instantly intrigued, by the characters and the topic of Alzheimer’s.

“I was amazed at how little I knew about the statistics about the disease,” he says. “I took it on because I thought I might bring an objective point of view.”

Once engaged, Adams started researching Alzheimer’s and called Baton Rouge locals such as Barbara Auten of Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area. With Auten’s help, Adams saw the magic of musical therapy for Alzheimer’s patients.

“I got to witness first-hand how some of the patients receive care giving,” he says. “I saw how these patients came to life and the music enriched their souls.”

Filmed in New Orleans, the movie was finished a little more than a month ago and stars Aunjanue Ellis as the title character and Joaquim de Almeda as Dr. Cruz. Co-stars include Andre Rayo (The Wire) and veteran character actor Bill Cobbs (The Color of Money).

So far, Una Vida has received a warm welcome. The film won the Audience Award at the 2014 Vail Film Festival, and multiple honors at the Newport Beach Film Festival. At the latter festival, the cast was finally able to see the film.

“I’m pleased to say they were very impressed with the film,” Adams says. “It was a true honor to work with this cast.”

This weekend, the film will make its Louisiana premiere at the Louisiana International Film Festival Sunday at noon at Cinemark Perkins Rowe.

“We’re stoked to have the film make its Louisiana debut at the festival,” Adams says.

Watch the trailer for Una Vida.

Read 225‘s coverage on the Louisiana International Film Festival. Check out the schedule and more details on LIFF programming. More information on the festival is available at lifilmfest.org.