Watch Carmine Street Guitars

Carmine Street Guitars is a heartwarming documentary that explores the art of handmade guitar building and the unique characters that bring these instruments to life. The film centers around the beloved New York City guitar shop, Carmine Street Guitars, and its owner Rick Kelly, a talented luthier who has been crafting guitars for over 40 years.

The film takes place over the course of several months, chronicling the daily rhythms of Kelly and his team as they go about their work building and repairing guitars. Kelly's creations are truly one-of-a-kind, each with its own unique story and character. He sources his materials from all over the city, using reclaimed wood from old buildings, and even from the Coney Island boardwalk, to craft his guitars.

There is a sense of pride and craftsmanship that permeates throughout the film, as we watch Kelly and his team meticulously work on each guitar, paying close attention to every detail. Their passion for their work is infectious, and it's inspiring to see how much joy they derive from creating something of such beauty and value.

The film also delves into the history of the shop, which has been a fixture in New York's Greenwich Village for decades. Kelly inherited the shop from his mentor, who had been operating it since the 1960s. The shop has become a community hub, attracting musicians and guitar enthusiasts from all over the world who come to play, hang out, and soak in the shop's unique atmosphere.

Throughout the film, we meet a wide range of characters who have been drawn to the shop and Kelly's work. There's Cindy Hulej, a talented artist who creates intricate designs on the shop's guitars. There's Dorothy Kelly, Rick's sister and shop assistant, who provides some comedic relief with her quirky personality. And there are the various musicians who come into the shop to try out and purchase Kelly's guitars, including Nels Cline of Wilco and British singer-songwriter Bill Frisell.

One of the most touching aspects of the film is the way it explores the relationships between Kelly and his customers. Kelly takes the time to get to know each of his clients, often spending hours chatting with them about their lives and the music they're making. It's clear that his guitars aren't just pieces of merchandise to be bought and sold – they're personal creations that are imbued with the emotions and stories of their owners.

Director Ron Mann does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the shop and its characters. The film has a nostalgic, almost ethereal quality to it, with lingering shots of Kelly's guitars and the vintage artifacts that adorn the shop's walls. The soundtrack, which features blues and rock music, adds to the film's overall mood of warmth and authenticity.

If you're a fan of music, craftsmanship, or just good storytelling, you'll find a lot to love in Carmine Street Guitars. It's a testament to the power of community, art, and the human spirit, and a celebration of the beauty that can be created by hand.

Carmine Street Guitars is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 82.