Notes from the Inside with James Rhodes

Away from the confines and formalities of a darkened concert hall, acclaimed "maverick pianist" James Rhodes plays in a gloriously sunlit room to a grand audience of one: a special dedication to a kindred spirit. Having spent time in psychiatric care following a severe breakdown, James visits a mental health institution and connects with four patients one by one, each with their own tale to tell. A keen smoker, coffee drinker, and listener, James's empathic demeanour gets at the complexities of mental illness and reminds us of the social prejudices that still prevail. The conversations lead back to his own childhood traumas and serve as impetus for deeper reflection. By performing pieces of music to those who have inspired him with their stories, this film -- at the first instance about reaching an audience least likely to experience Grieg or Rachmaninoff -- is in fact just as much about James's making good with his own life.