Trailer

River City Drumbeat

Runtime
1hr 35mins
Directed by
Marlon Johnson, Anne Flatté
Featuring
Edward "Nardie" White, Zambia Nkrumah, Albert Shumake
Body

Through our Virtual Screening Room, you can rent films curated by the Coolidge team, while helping to support the Coolidge during this unprecedented time.

River City Drumbeat is an uplifting story of music, love, and legacies set in the American South. Edward "Nardie" White devoted his life to leading the African-American drum corps he co-founded with Zambia Nkrumah in Louisville, Kentucky three decades ago. Together they inspired youth from their West Louisville neighborhood to thrive by connecting them with the art and cultural traditions of their African ancestors. Now Albert Shumake, whose destiny was shaped by the drumline, must take up the mantle for the next generation. Meanwhile, student drummers Imani, Jailen, and Emily navigate adolescence and life changes. River City Drumbeat follows this creative community of mentors, parents, and youth making their way in a world where systemic forces raise obstacles to fulfilling their dreams.

watch now

Every new release we offer will be available through the individual distributor's websites and streaming services. You'll be taken to their websites to purchase and watch the film, but a portion of your ticket will help support the Coolidge. Having technical issues? Visit our FAQ page here.

This Week

  • The new film from director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Decision to Leave) and based on Donald E. Westlake's novel The Ax

    Showtimes
  • From filmmaker Mona Fastvold (The Brutalist) comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, starring Academy Award nominee Amanda Seyfried. 

    Showtimes
  • A raw and unflinching portrait of survival, sexuality, and self-invention, marking the directorial debut of Kristen Stewart

    Showtimes
  • The new film from Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World), starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle Fanning.

    Showtimes
  • From Academy Award winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, starring Jessie Buckley, and Paul Mescal. 

    Showtimes
  • The new film from Nicholas Hytner, starring Ralph Fiennes. 

    Showtimes
  • Winner, Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, 2025 Venice Film Festival

    Showtimes
  • Andrei Tarkovsky’s metaphys­ical journey through an enigmatic postapocalyptic landscape is a rarefied cinematic experience like no other. 

    Showtimes
  • In this course, we’ll sweep through the history of American journalists on film, as taught by Judi Freeman.

    Showtimes
  • Post-film discussion with Roger Rabbit creator Gary K. Wolf!

    Showtimes
  • Malcolm McDowell stars in Stanley Kubrick's ultraviolent classic.

    Showtimes
  • Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards.

    Showtimes
  • A frisky, feminine, film noir about psychoanalysis and many other things… 

    Showtimes
  • From the first minute to the last minute, it's a nerve-shattering experience!

    Showtimes
  • Featuring a pre-film conversation with The Ringer's Chris Ryan, co-host of The Watch, and Yasi Salek, host of Bandsplain

    Showtimes
  • From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers.

    Showtimes
  • Paul Newman stars as the coach of the Chiefs in the hilarious comedy Slap Shot about the world of professional sports. 

    Showtimes