Tragedy Struck Bastards of Soul, But They Live On Through A Powerful Documentary

Paul Levatino never intended to make a film about Bastards of Soul. In the beginning, he was just shooting music videos, helping the band generate content to grow their fan base. They were on the cusp of stardom, reaching the end of their first act and ready to expand beyond Texas. Rather than their ascent, what Levatino ended up capturing — and sharing with the world through his documentary, eponymously titled Bastards of Soul — would be the group’s final chapter.

Until now, Bastards of Soul could only be seen at film festivals (unless you were lucky enough to catch a screening on PBS last year). But on April 4, the film dropped on Apple TV and Prime Video, allowing viewers to explore the rise, tragedy and legacy of Bastards of Soul at home. It also allowed us to reconnect with Levatino and learn more about his journey with the film since its Texas premiere in 2024.

If you are unfamiliar with the Bastards of Soul, Levatino’s documentary proves an excellent introduction to their music. Blending the band’s work in the recording studio with footage of live performances, Levatino shows them serving as a modern conduit for the timeless spirit of R&B and soul music. It also confronts the untimely death of frontman Chadwick Murray in 2021 from a rare illness, leading to the band’s dissolution.

Murray’s passing, in addition to altering the trajectory of Bastards of Soul itself, posed challenges for distributing Levatino’s documentary.

“I had a project about a band that nobody really knew outside of Texas,” Levatino tells the Observer. “And the lead singer passed and they weren’t going to be touring to support [the movie].”

To get the film in front of audiences, Levatino knew he needed to make a splash at film festivals. The programming team at the Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) was supportive, but he was hesitant to have the movie’s world premiere on home turf. Because Bastards of Soul has such deep ties to Dallas, he wanted to take it elsewhere for its maiden voyage. Ultimately, Levatino decided to premiere the movie in Idaho at the 2024 Sun Valley Film Festival. If it worked there, he reasoned, it would give him the momentum he needed to keep taking it to other festivals. 

It worked.

After Idaho, the director brought Bastards of Soul back to Texas for a private screening at South by Southwest and then DIFF. It played in Seattle, at the Catalina Film Festival and in European festivals — winning awards and drawing the attention the project needed to live on after the festival screenings. The film landed a sales agent who helped navigate a release strategy that ultimately led to the film’s streaming on Apple TV.

Levatino believes the movie worked because of how relatable it is, not only showing audiences a group of friends “collaborating, chasing their dreams,” but also what happens when the unthinkable occurs, derailing the group’s plans and forcing them to unexpectedly reckon with mortality and their legacy. Levitano and collaborator Zack Tzourtzouklis’ directorial vision keeps the Bastards’ joyful, warm soul at the forefront of the film, creating a sharp, powerful juxtaposition with the tragic crescendo in the third act.

The streaming release marks a major milestone for both the film and the band itself, but Levatino isn’t quite finished with the project yet. A collector’s Blu-Ray/DVD is in the works, with the director hoping to incorporate additional concert footage of the band as a bonus feature. His initial cut of the film ran almost four hours (the final cut is under 90 minutes), so he has plenty of material to serve up as an extra treat for the band’s die-hard fans.

However audiences encounter the film, Levatino is just proud to have done his part to solidify the band’s legacy — and bring great music to the masses.

Bastards of Soul is available now on Apple TV and Prime Video.