‘Learn to Swim’ Should Flow Smoothly. Instead, It Crashes and Lands In Awkward Storytelling
By Lisa D. DeNeal
I love a good, great, jazz film. For example, ‘Paris Blues,’ a 1961 motion picture starring the late Sidney Poitier, Diahann Carroll, Paul Newman and his real life wife, Joanne Woodward - the latter is the sole surviving cast member. ‘Paris Blues’ took various topics including, love, racism, relationships and life decisions, and blended it perfectly within a jazz musical.
‘Learn to Swim,’ a film debut by writer and director Thyrone Tommy that’s currently streaming on Netflix, has the ingredients to complement and join a collection of jazz movies, including Spike Lee’s iconic ‘Mo’ Better Blues,’ but the notes are a bit shaky.
‘Learn to Swim’ is about a group of jazz musicians, mainly saxophonist Dezi, who is described in the film’s synopsis as “doggedly private,” and Latin-jazz singer Selma, a vivacious, but less experienced singer. Dezi and Selma connect during a performance in a jazz club when Selma is asked to come onstage to perform. She performs a combination of poetry and vocals and you see in one shot how Selma’s piqued Dezi’s interest. A slight game of cat and mouse ensues later at the club’s bar where they do shots but Selma leaves, leaving Dezi feeling awkward.
The story between Dezi and Selma is told in two timeframes. However, it was hard for me to keep up with what they were going through. Dezi goes through a few things that throws me off the main story line. He goes through a health crisis that seems to act as a metaphor to his relationship with Selma (there’s also a moment where he is petty and insulting with describing Selma’s ability to sing that makes me wonder why she continued to bother with him). He has personal and professional issues with the group/band he collaborates with, and a few other moments that were unnecessary. Whose apartment is he living in? Why does he paint over a door frame where a child’s height is measured? What’s up with the female landlord or neighbor?
The movie itself is beautifully shot, from the closeups of the musicians to the club/tavern to the outdoor scenes. And the transitional timeframes throughout the film are solid despite the story. Actors Thomas Antony Olajide (‘Dezi’) and Emma Ferreira (‘Selma’) bring the sexual attraction and the heat, I just wish their story line was broader.
I give ‘Learn to Swim’ three stars.
‘Learn to Swim’ is the feature film debut for award-winning director Thyrone Tommy, who cowrote the script with screenwriter Marni Van Dyk. Produced in participation with CBC Films, ‘Learn to Swim’ premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and selected as one of TIFF Canada’s Top Ten Films. It was released in Canada by Mongrel Media, and by ARRAY in the U.S. and internationally.
ARRAY was founded in 2011 by acclaimed filmmaker and director Ava Duvernay. ‘Learn to Swim’ is streaming on Netflix and showing at select theaters.
Lisa D. DeNeal is a freelance writer and published author. She’s written for local newspapers (The Gary Crusader and The Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana) as well as print and digital publications including Hope For Women, Black Girl Nerds, Kiwanis International and Port of Harlem magazines. Her books include Unflappable, with Carolyn E. Mosby (www.carolynmosby.com), The Panthers Club, with Alethea (Sheryl) Pascascio, Dead Lies and Extra! Extra! Love! are available on amazon.com.
