IN 2004, Jason Crigler, a hap pening New York guitarist, suffered a brain hemorrhage during a Manhattan concert. He was left unresponsive and near death, and doctors said that if Crigler were to recover, he’d be a human vegetable.

Eric Daniel Metzgar’s documentary “Life. Support. Music.” shows how Crigler, with the help of his devoted family, proved the MDs wrong.

The story – told by relatives, doctors and fellow musicians – is inspiring enough to connect with viewers on its own terms.

Metzgar, however, insists on accentuating everything with self-conscious visual tricks (split screens, frames within a frame) and gushy voiceover.

Perhaps the film should be called “Life. Support. Music. Pretension.”

Running time: 79 minutes. Not rated (mature theme). At Cinema Village, 12th Street, east of Fifth Avenue.