根据E·L·多科特罗的同名小说改编,片名直译是《拉格泰姆舞曲》,是一种从19世纪末开始流行的黑人音乐,早期爵士乐的雏形。本片并没有直接讲述太多关于爵士乐的故事,更多以1920年代美国纽约这个爵士乐蓬勃发展的时空为背景,分别铺陈四个家庭的不同生活和他们之间的交汇,反映了当时动荡而又生气勃勃的社会情景。 后半段更多引出当年的种族歧视问题,有说法认为福尔曼通过呈现20世纪初黑人对不公处境的抗争来呼应80年代更加风起云涌的黑人民权运动。The story runs in the 1910's New York. Coalhouse Walker Jr. is a black piano player. He has won fame and fortune playing with a jazz band. Some white men do not like this situation, and one day they assault him and spoil his brand new car. Walker tries by all means to get justice, without an answer...