Chasing a dream is often unrealistic, especially in the arts, because there can be high risks with little to no reward. Enter Jim and Sam, a band who’ve been playing together the last 10 years with the goal of building a real following. Though they have recorded albums and had some success, they have never had the following they envisioned. Having married 6 months earlier, Jim Hanft and Samantha Yonack decide to take their future into their own hands. They have one goal: play a live show every night for a year. Through the insanity of canceled tours and being together 24/7, Jim and Sam keep their love of music–and each other–as their North Star. The laughter and genuine connection make After So Many Days a must-watch for all.
Jim and Sam’s path as musicians trying to grow a following is not a unique endeavor, but their fearlessness to film their journey, warts and all, shows a vulnerability that not many are willing to explore. The film does not have a script or a production crew, but the unpolished, earnest nature of the filming adds to the charm that is their music. After So Many Days captures what Jim and Sam love doing most: playing music for people.
The most meaningful performances are the ones in unusual locations: a laundromat, a bodega, a gondola lift, and a nail salon; and these are where Jim and Sam find their own version of success. After So Many Days does not end with the fanbase they wanted, per se, but with a greater appreciation and understanding of why they love music: the connection. Back home after their last performance, Jim wearily encapsulates the worth of their adventure: “Music uplifts, it feels, it connects us all.” Jim Hanft and Sam Yonack’s ability to build connections with those who gave them a chance and let them perform was far more rewarding than the fan base they thought they needed.
After So Many Days shows us how the pursuit of an idealized dream can be surpassed by our love for one another. We all yearn to connect and be understood, and this film is another way to unite us all. I am proud to say I am now a lifelong fan of Jim and Sam, and can’t wait to feel their magic and connection whenever performances can resume!
Distributed by Gravitas Ventures, ‘After So Many Days’ is now available on iTunes and Amazon, and will screen at Nashville Film Festival.
