Jazz Infernal

Koffi Jr arrives in Montreal, looking for a job in the same city that his late father had become renowned as the legendary trumpeter ‘The Elephant’. Jazz Infernal, a short-film by Will Niava, is just as sensitive as it is bombastic! In true jazz style, this film moves through both fast-tempo set pieces and tranquil lulls with an ease that showcases a mastery of pace from the filmmakers.

We open on young Koffi Jr peeking in on his Dad playing the trumpet, intercut with the view of a sombre beach at dusk. We are then snapped out of that serene location and into the high-sensory tension of an airport, with quick cuts and hectic noise, as Koffi Jr faces airport security. This simple couple of beats sets the stage for the story to come. Niava and cinematographer Harley Francis make the creative choice to depict the exterior of Montreal feeling cold with blue and green colour grading. But, when our protagonist steps into the jazz club, the frame is lit up with warm oranges wrapping Koffi in a homely light, transporting him and us back to his childhood in Ghana.

Speaking of the flashbacks, the quiet yet powerful Ghanaian sequences scattered throughout the film are a welcome change of pace from the fast-moving farce of Koffi and co’s night out. The chaotically-paced ebbs and flows of instruments in the modern day (in a fantastic soundtrack provided by Hichem Ben Khalifa) gives way to a slow and contemplative trumpet solo, reflecting the simplicity of his childhood.

Ange Eric N'Guessan, who portrays Koffi Jr, brings a subtle fish-out-of-water feel to the character that serves the story’s absurdist elements without ever making it seem unnatural. Joined by the anarchic but lovable side characters, played excellently by Alexis Belhumeur and Kalombo Kasongo, Jazz Infernal curates an excellent cast with everyone on absolute top-form.

The final shot is likely to move even the most stoic of viewers. The chaos of Montreal winds down and Koffi decides to pick up his father’s trumpet. As the camera pans down and he decides to play, those orange colours begin to leak once more into the scene, as he brings his own warmth into the world.

Initially conceptualised as a story centred on the immigrant experience, Niava’s experiences having lost his own father changed the course of the film, resulting in a profound and gentle exploration of grief that can be felt in every frame. Jazz Infernal is a singular vision, a singular instrument that cuts through the noise of the world and straight into the audience’s heart. Its only downside? That there isn’t more of it. This creative team is a force to be reckoned with, capturing the vision they set out to achieve with love.