Music for a Blue Train

Music for a Blue Train is a 48-minute 2003 documentary about busker musicians in the Montreal Metro subway train system. It was written and directed by Mila Aung-Thwin of EyeSteelFilm and produced by Germaine Ying Gee Wong for the National Film Board of Canada.

Music for a Blue Train
Directed byMila Aung-Thwin
Produced byGermaine Ying Gee Wong
StarringBad News Brown (Paul Frappier), Montreal Metro buskers
Release date
  • 2003 (2003)
Running time
48 minutes
CountryCanada

A harmonica player known as Bad News Brown (real name Paul Frappier) acts as an impromptu host in the documentary bringing the viewers snippets of the lives of musicians in Montreal's subway system – The Metro – run by Société de transport de Montréal (STM) that gives around 60 spots on a first-come, first-served basis, provided the musician-busker registers his name early enough as soon as the Metro opens to the public and returns during his assigned time to perform for an hour or two, amidst indifference from most passersby or, at times, a token word of encouragement.

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