Milford Graves Full Mantis

This was by far one of the best and more interestingly put together documentaries I have ever seen. To me, it felt more like a portrait than a documentary in that it had no intention of telling a linear story of Milford Grave's life and career, but rather focused on short bursts of archival footage which illustrate central themes in the subject's work. The editing is inventive and totally in sync with the pacing of the film and with Milford's playing and speaking. When I was told that the film has no voices or music besides Graves' I wasn't sure how well that would keep my attention for an hour and a half. The pacing of the film, however, kept me interested and wanting more. The archival footage is amazing and is seamlessly interwoven with present-day interviews.

Don't miss the chance to see The Leonardo da Vinci of our time.

Beautiful new documentary on the incomparable Milford Graves. Director Jake Megsinky maintains enough of a light touch to give his subject all the breathing room he needs yet simultaneously insinuates himself through an almost musical editing pace and style to cut directly to some of the core pieces of Professor Graves' teachings. Add to that some blistering live footage and this is an impressionistic and vibrant portrait of a musical iconoclast that stands alongside Les Blanks The World According to Lightning and Jem Cohens Benjamin Smoke

I have been trying to tell people about Professor Milford Graves for more than forty years, and have found it very difficult to explain why he is so special and so important. Full Mantis will tell you everything you need to know. Jake Meginsky has done a magnificent job of capturing Milford's spirit in a way that almost everybody will be able to understand. Nurturing healing benevolence -- there's some GOOD MEDICINE in this movie!

Diving into this film is a life changer! Milford Graves appears to be a extremely generous human being, following his own path to many great discoveries. Where science meet politics, esoterism and underground jazz history meets botanics, martial arts meets love, and art teaching meets engagement! one of the most vibrant musicians of our times open his doors to a very respectfull cinematographer, letting us listen to an essential voice of the 20th century! Beautifull film!