Matthew Heineman’s “The Boy from Medellín”

Filmmaker Matthew Heineman joins Eric Newman to talk about his latest documentary, “The Boy from Medellín,” which centers on reggaeton superstar J Balvin.

By LARB Radio HourMay 28, 2021

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Filmmaker Matthew Heineman joins Eric to talk about his latest documentary, The Boy from Medellín, which centers on reggaeton superstar J Balvin, the voice and creative force behind such massive hits as “Mi Gente,” “I Like It,” and “Agua.” Heineman's chronicles the pop star’s return to his Colombian birthplace, Medellin — the last stop on his world tour. That homecoming takes a dramatic turn as the country is plunged into youth-led anti-government protests. Heineman shares what it was like to capture a superstar caught between the desire to entertain and the demands of fans on social media that he speak to the political crisis gripping his homeland; to witness a brilliantly talented performer with his tour — and his reputation — on the line.

Also, Claire Phillips, author of A Room with a Darker View: Chronicles of My Mother and Schizophrenia, stops by to talk with Kate and recommend Ronald Chase’s Schizophrenia: A Brother Finds Answers in Biological Science.