On September 22, 2025, at the Romaeuropa Festival, Damien Chazelle’s work Whiplash will be presented together with the Multiquarium Big Band of Benoît Sourisse and André Charlier, who will play in tune with the film at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome.
Whiplash is a film-concert that has had international success. This unique show, in which Cinema and Music merge together, is presented in Rome on the occasion of its tenth anniversary since its release in theaters. Damien Chazelle’s film, with an exceptional jazz school, takes us to New York atmospheres, accompanied by the soundtrack composed by Justin Hurwitz through a live performance.
Whiplash, a film written and directed by Damien Chazelle in 2014, is based on the director’s direct experience when he played the drums.
The film is the true story of the director, made of aspirations and challenges, which takes place in a prestigious jazz school in New York. In the film Andrew, a nineteen-year-old admitted to the school as a talented student, dreams of becoming one of the best jazz drummers of his generation, but will have to deal with a sadistic and ruthless teacher. Whiplash thus becomes the story of those who have never given up and who in the end come out victorious. The title Whiplash, which in English means “whiplash”, comes from an extremely particular piece played on the drums, because it is marked in odd time, syncopated, difficult to count and obviously to perform. During the film, Benoît Sourisse and André Charlier’s Multiquarium Big Band will play in perfect harmony with the film, creating a truly unique experience.

Since, as already mentioned, it is a film by those who never throw away their grip, it is worth noting that Whiplash was presented in a first short version by Chazelle at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 (held in Park City, Utah) winning the Jury Prize and giving the director the opportunity to make a new version as a feature film and win, again, the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award.

It is also worth remembering that thanks to Whiplash Damien Chazelle, already acclaimed director for the famous film La La Land, had already achieved good notoriety with this film.

On September 22nd we therefore recommend you not to miss the screening of Whiplash in Rome, it will be a unique cinematic and musical experience with the live performance of Justin Hurwitz’s soundtrack that enhances the power of jazz, the tight rhythm of the narration giving the viewer an emotional impact of the most iconic scenes of the film.https://www.romacinemafest.it/it/whiplash-cine-concert-live/