In case you are unfamiliar, the background to this documentary is an amateur piano competition inspired by one of the great virtuosic pianists of the 20th century, Van Cliburn. The film follows the lives of maybe 10-15 of the competitors, capturing their highs and lows during the competition and telling their individual stories.
Even when one considers the remarkable musical accompaniment provided to the film by the competition, the beauty of this piece is found in the competitors themselves.
In each of the amateur pianists, the viewer finds something familiar -- admittedly with greater frequency and magnitude in some than others. The director chose such a diverse cross-section of personalities and personal histories -- from the relatively not-uncommon to the fascinating and even, on occasion, absurd -- that it is just as easy to believe that the person sitting in the concert hall before the piano, hands sweating, heart racing, creating beautiful music for the world, is you. And in a sense, as this is an amateur competition, maybe it is.
I am not a gifted musician, but the message of this documentary rings as true for me as does Mozart/Bach/Rachmaninoff from the Steinway. I think a quote from Maestro Cliburn near the beginning of the documentary aptly captures the production's spirit.
"Musical inspiration is the gift of God. Use it with the purest of motives. Aim high and consider yourself capable of great things. Lend your talents to the world to make it better."
The second half of the quote -- beginning with "aim high" -- articulates the message that every person, regardless of musical aptitude, can take from this documentary. It is at once delightfully entertaining and happily inspiring.
Even when one considers the remarkable musical accompaniment provided to the film by the competition, the beauty of this piece is found in the competitors themselves.
In each of the amateur pianists, the viewer finds something familiar -- admittedly with greater frequency and magnitude in some than others. The director chose such a diverse cross-section of personalities and personal histories -- from the relatively not-uncommon to the fascinating and even, on occasion, absurd -- that it is just as easy to believe that the person sitting in the concert hall before the piano, hands sweating, heart racing, creating beautiful music for the world, is you. And in a sense, as this is an amateur competition, maybe it is.
I am not a gifted musician, but the message of this documentary rings as true for me as does Mozart/Bach/Rachmaninoff from the Steinway. I think a quote from Maestro Cliburn near the beginning of the documentary aptly captures the production's spirit.
"Musical inspiration is the gift of God. Use it with the purest of motives. Aim high and consider yourself capable of great things. Lend your talents to the world to make it better."
The second half of the quote -- beginning with "aim high" -- articulates the message that every person, regardless of musical aptitude, can take from this documentary. It is at once delightfully entertaining and happily inspiring.