Documentary follows VSU, U.Va. bands during election

A French documentary that explores last fall's presidential election through the sounds of two Virginia marching bands will make its U.S. debut next week.

Virginia State University and the University of Virginia provide the fanfare for "Marching Band," which is a portrait of young voters that melds personal stories of band members with the historic election.

The film will be shown at 7 p.m. next Thursday at Culbreth Theatre during the opening night of the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville. Director Claude Miller and wife Annie, the producer, will be on hand with members of both bands for a question-and-answer session.

Tickets are required for the Charlottesville screening.

The Millers also will be at VSU the following night for a presentation that is free and open to the public. The documentary will be shown at 5 p.m. Nov. 6 in Virginia Hall on the VSU campus near Petersburg.

Miller, who has previously been here for Virginia Commonwealth University's French Film Festival, focuses on the last three months of the presidential campaign.

He followed VSU's Trojan Explosion Marching Band and the U.Va. Cavalier Marching Band to tap into the enthusiasm of young voters for Barack Obama. -- Karin Kapsidelis