Ovation

The Search for Robert Johnson explores the troubled life and mysterious death of this legendary bluesman who was rumored to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his legendary guitar skills. Drawing on the research of blues scholars Mack McCormick and Gayle Dean Wardlow, the film pieces together documentary footage, interviews, and music to tell the story of an intangible spirit. Blues musician John Hammond, Jr. narrates as he guides the quest for answers by crisscrossing the Mississippi Delta, introducing viewers to Johnson's contemporaries and acquaintances, including the man who may be Johnson's long lost son. This riveting documentary explores the man behind the myth from the point of view of the people who knew him best.