The latest guest on The Film Scorer Podcast is French composer Raphaelle Thibaut! Raphaelle (or simply Raph) has been primarily working in documentaries lately, scoring projects such as Secrets of the Whales, Introducing, Selma Blair, and Mama’s Boy, the last of which being her latest project. We primarily talk about her score for Mama’s Boy, which is a lovely, somber yet optimistic score told primarily through piano, with instances of woodwinds, acoustic guitar, and more. We also touch on some of her musical influences (60s and 70s French and Italian scores), how those influences compare with more modern scores, and appreciation for documentary music broadly.
As mentioned, I found Raph’s score for Mama’s Boy very touching – I don’t ordinarily listen to many documentary scores, so I count myself lucky for having found this one. After already listening to Secrets of the Whales and Introducing, Selma Blair back when they came out, I can say Raph is someone to keep on your radar!
You can find out more about Raph on her website. Mama’s Boy is currently available on HBO Max, while Raph’s score (and many of her prior works) is available on all major digital platforms.
Have a listen to our conversation below or wherever you get your podcasts (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts).
About Mama’s Boy
“HBO documentary Mama’s Boy, directed by Laurent Bouzereau (HBO’s Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind), centers around the upbringing of the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of Milk, Dustin Lance Black. Traveling back to the places where he grew up, Black explores his childhood roots, gay identity and close relationship with his mother, who overcame childhood polio, abusive marriages and Mormon dogma, while becoming Black’s emotional rock and, ultimately, the inspiration for his activism. With a wealth of personal photographs and candid memories from Black’s family, colleagues, and friends, Mama’s Boy embraces the personal to tell a universally hopeful tale of resilience and reconciliation through the power of love and shared stories.
Adapted from Black’s 2019 memoir “Mama’s Boy: A Story from our Americas,” the documentary is a provocative and powerful journey through America as well as a moving tribute to a mother’s courage and a reckoning with the strength she instilled in her son to fight for his beliefs. The film features interviews with screenwriter Dustin Lance Black; members of Black’s extended family; Black’s husband, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley; filmmaker Paris Barclay; former president of the Human Rights Campaign, Chad Griffin; and executive director of Equality Utah, Troy Williams.” courtesy of HBO