Repairing instruments for children is its own art in this Oscar-nominated short

Nominated for best documentary short at the 2024 Academy Awards, The Last Repair Shop features a small warehouse whose workers have a very big job – carrying out instrument repairs for the Los Angeles Unified School District, one of the last in the US to offer free instruments, and free repairs, to its schoolchildren. The directing duo Kris Bowers and Ben Proudfoot dive into the personal stories of the dedicated artisans who make the repairs, and the students whose lives were changed by being provided with a musical instrument. For one craftsman, a $20 fiddle becomes a global passport, while the piano is a source of purpose and empowerment for a young schoolgirl facing mental health challenges. Despite each narrative being unique, a common thread emerges – of music, and equity in music education, as both an avenue of opportunity and a means for flourishing.