There’s a reason why the short documentary THE LAST REPAIR SHOP won the Oscar. It’s a heartfelt love song to four unseen repair shop employees who fix L.A. Unified students’ musical instruments. This thirty-minute short hits all the right notes, as audiences will fall for the workers with significantly different backgrounds. Yet, what connects them is their love for serving the community and helping new musicians connect through the power of song.
Outside of the wonderful protagonist stories that run the repair shop, it’s a delight hearing the students share what music means. From one musician who is scared of failure but not when she’s performing to another (Porché Brinker) whose infectious smile will forever be remembered on the stage at the Oscars (see image). These narratives show us that “music is one of the best things humans do.”
The kids of L.A. Unified may have broken parts (just like the instruments that need repair), yet THE LAST REPAIR SHOP reminds viewers that through kindness, service, and passion, even the smallest jobs have a story. And those stories can inspire on the largest stage (The Oscars and now Disney+).
