Sunset and the Mockingbird

The love story of Gloria Clayborne and jazz pianist Junior Mance unfolds against the backdrop of his remarkable 70-year career, performing with greats like Dizzy Gillespie and Dinah Washington. In 1996, he met his great love: Gloria. They married, she became his manager, and traveled the world together. with music at the heart of their bond. In 2012, Junior suffered a stroke and developed dementia. His musical abilities endured, but Gloria was forced to face a new reality: Who would he be without music. Who would they be? Sunset and the Mockingbird is told from Gloria's perspective, loosely structured around her personal journal entries, much like the spine of a jazz composition. Blending verité footage with archival photos and film, the documentary fluidly moves between past and present, reflecting the rhythm and flow of memory. At its core is the evolving, messy, and tender bond between Gloria and Junior, offering a quiet reflection on love, identity, and how we find our way through life's unexpected turns.