SBIFF Film Review: Keep the Funk – A Heartfelt Call to Preserve Santa Barbara’s Soul
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Premiering at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, Keep the Funk is a poignant and impassioned short film that captures the ongoing battle for the soul of the Funk Zone, a vibrant neighborhood in downtown Santa Barbara. Through a raw and captivating lens, the film delves into the local community’s fight against a development project that threatens to transform the area, eroding the very cultural and artistic landscape that gives the city its unique character.
The film takes a hard look at the ongoing plans for a massive hotel project that would span six acres in the heart of the Funk Zone. The hotel proposal is part of a larger trend of increasing commercialization in a city known for its small businesses, artistic ventures, and local charm. However, the residents and business owners of this tight-knit neighborhood are far from thrilled with the plan, which they fear will destroy the fragile ecosystem, disrupt the community’s creative spirit, and significantly worsen traffic congestion.
Through interviews, striking visuals, and compelling storytelling, Keep the Funk showcases the passion of those who stand to lose the most. Local entrepreneurs, artists, and residents voice their frustration over the city's priorities, making it clear that the preservation of Santa Barbara’s identity—particularly the Funk Zone’s artistic heritage—is non-negotiable. The film’s focus is clear: the neighborhood’s charm isn’t just about its physical space, but the vibrant community that has made it an iconic part of the city.
The film also taps into the broader issue of urban development versus community well-being. With housing needs becoming more urgent in Santa Barbara, the film raises a crucial question: why prioritize a luxury hotel when affordable housing could offer more substantial benefits to residents? It’s a dilemma that points to larger tensions between growth and preservation, commerce and culture, the individual and the collective.
The turning point in the narrative arrives when the proposal to halt production was denied. Yet, the film closes on a sobering note, reflecting on how the fight is far from over. While the victory in delaying the project is important, the film underscores that the larger question of preserving Santa Barbara’s essence continues to challenge its citizens, even as the Funk Zone itself is rapidly diminishing.
With its compelling subject matter, excellent local interviews, and stunning cinematography, Keep the Funk serves as a reminder of the power of community activism and the importance of protecting the cultural fabric of a neighborhood in the face of growing commercial pressures. Its emotional depth and urgency highlight a larger conversation about what makes a city truly unique—and what is lost when that identity is sacrificed for development.
In closing, Keep the Funk serves as a powerful reminder of how neighborhoods like the Funk Zone, much like DTLA in Los Angeles, are more than just geographical spaces—they are sacred homes for the dreamers, the creators, and the visionaries who breathe life into a city. These areas, brimming with small businesses, galleries, and artistic expression, represent a unique cultural heartbeat that can't be replaced by high-end developments or luxury hotels. As cities grow and change, it’s essential to preserve the spaces that foster creativity and community, spaces where people can connect, dream, and build something truly their own. In this context, the fight to protect the Funk Zone is not just about a neighborhood; it’s about protecting the soul of a city.
