In the cinematic universe crafted by director Damien Chazelle, there’s a recurring theme: personal sacrifice in pursuit of a higher calling. This theme echoes through his films, notably exemplified in his almost-Oscar-winning La La Land. Whiplash, however, delves into a different facet of this theme.
It’s not about the joy of making music in Whiplash, as Chazelle once described it, but rather the excruciating pain endured in the quest for perfectionism. The film follows Andrew Neiman, a young and ambitious drummer whose relentless crusade for perfection is both propelled and hindered by his tyrannical music instructor, Terence Fletcher.
The film stars Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman, a determined young musician. Opposite him is J.K. Simmons, who delivers a chillingly brilliant performance as the abrasive and demanding Fletcher, a character inspired by Chazelle’s own band instructor.
Penned by Chazelle, Whiplash explores the intense pressures faced by artists striving to answer to a perceived higher calling in their art. The film has received its fair share of applause and criticism for its depiction of musicians and the roles their teachers play in shaping their moulds. These criticisms—as voiced across forums like Reddit and beyond—may have been bolstered further by Chazelle’s claims that he drew inspiration for Whiplash from his days as a jazz drummer in high school and college, where he encountered instructors who mirrored Fletcher’s ruthlessness demeanour.
So, is Whiplash based on a true story?
Technically, Whiplash is only inspired by actual events, as confirmed by director Damien Chazelle himself. While the characters of Neiman and Fletcher, as well as the setting of the film, are fictional, the film draws heavily from Chazelle’s personal experiences. He had confided to The Hollywood Reporter about once having a teacher who would regularly yell at him with words Fletcher inflicts on Neiman throughout the film. “You’re rushing,” “You’re dragging,” and “Not my tempo!”
Even the scene where Neiman wants to perform despite being flipped twice in a car accident draws directly from Chazelle’s own life events. “This shit’s more autobiographical than you think,” Chazelle told The Moveable Fest with a smirk.
However, one should not look for authenticity in a piece of fiction where taking creative liberties is the name of the game. Insights from professionals in the field, such as Mark Sherman, a jazz faculty member at The Juilliard School, shed light on the artistic liberties taken in Whiplash. Speaking to Vulture, Sherman debunked some technical things in the film, “People don’t draw blood like that, playing music. It just doesn’t happen, and if you do, you’re holding the sticks wrong.”
But Sherman had to admit that you need to dedicate hours of your daily routine to practising, and indeed, teachers like Fletcher do exist. “That part [in which Andrew breaks off with his girlfriend to chase his dreams] is a valid point. The commitment that it takes to play music is like any other art form.” he added it could all feel like “an addiction, just like a drug,” noting that becoming an isolated hermit is all too likely since “there can be very little room for a social life. Some kids here can’t find a balance.”
You contemplate these thoughts and stream Whiplash on Netflix while you do it.
