About the Film
"'And This Is Free' is the fascinating personal vision of life around Chicago's Maxwell Street open air market shot by the photographer Mike Shea [capturing] the gritty urban landscape that nurtured Chicago blues... Shot with a handheld camera in the cinema verite style... the film crew spent every weekend on Maxwell Street over a six month period... The flow of everyday details - overheard conversation, faces in the crowd, items strewn in a vendor's stall - captivates the viewer with the power of authenticity." The film uses the footage to illustrate a Sunday afternoon on Maxwell Street in 1964. Folkstreams does not have a file from the original 16mm, but would like to do a restoration if there is way to access the original negative.
