Watch Southlander - Diary of a Desperate Musician

Southlander - Diary of a Desperate Musician is a 2001 independent film that follows the journey of Chance, played by Rory Cochrane, a music deliveryman who specializes in delivering rare and obscure musical instruments in a post-modern, dystopian Los Angeles. The film was directed by the indie filmmaker Steve Hanft and starred a host of popular musicians, including Beck, Beth Orton, and Hank Williams III.

The movie begins with Chance and his unusual job, delivering musical instruments to the biggest names in the industry. However, his mundane job takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a strange woman on his route, named Gravity, played by Ione Skye. Gravity is in search of a rare instrument known as the 'Tibetan Ums', which is rumored to bring immortality to the player.

Chance, feeling drawn to Gravity, decides to help her find this mythical instrument, embarking on a life-changing adventure across the city, meeting various eccentric characters along the way. Together, Chance and Gravity navigate the twisted, somewhat dangerous L.A. underground music scene, trying to track down the elusive Tibetan Ums.

Throughout the road trip, Chance undergoes a self-discovery and becomes introspective about his life as a musician, constantly questioning his own music and the direction it's taking. With each encounter on their journey, he learns more about himself while experiencing the different facets of LA's music scene.

One of the many people they meet is the mysterious Silver, played by Lawrence Hilton Jacobs III, who considers himself a guru of sorts, believing he has discovered the secret of immortality. He also takes them to an underground club called the Bird of Paradise, where Chance and Gravity cross paths with a variety of musical acts, some performing outside of the mainstream.

Along the way, they also come across a group of disaffected teenage misfits, who take them to a bizarre, surreal carnival, which is full of dark imagery and a haunting soundtrack. Amongst the teenagers is an aspiring musician named Lucas, played by Ross Harris, whose musical talent catches Chance's attention, and the two of them strike up an unlikely friendship.

Additional noteworthy performances in the movie include Elliot Smith as himself, Laura Prepon as a mysterious club-goer with whom Chance engages in a conversation about the current state of his music, and Richard Edson as one of the characters Chance's encounter along the way.

The musical performances in Southlander - Diary of a Desperate Musician are exceptional, blending a variety of genres including rock, pop, and punk, while capturing the essence of the diverse music scene in Los Angeles. The movie's score is also noteworthy, with a mix of electronic and world music elements, creating a unique soundscape for the film.

In conclusion, Southlander - Diary of a Desperate Musician is a captivating exploration of the underground music scene in Los Angeles, offering a look at how the music industry operates in a dystopian future. With memorable performances from a host of talented musicians, and strong writing by the director Steve Hanft and his collaborator Bradford Schultze, the film is a must-watch for fans of music and dystopian storytelling alike.