In Search of Mozart
October 1, 2007 6:45pm
Granville 7 Theatre 2
Last year was the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. And quite fortuitously director Phil Grabsky had finished his previous film (The Boy Who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan) and was ready to embark on a new project just in time to hit this date.
The documentary chronologically narrates the achievements of Mozart's life. From his birth in Salzburg, his first composition Andante in C for Keyboard, K. 1a when he was five years-old, to his death in Vienna at age 35, and his last incomplete composition Requiem Mass in D minor, K. 626.
The selection of musicians and scholars interviewed is very intentionally international. Languages spoken include English, German, Czech, Italian, and French which are the languages Mozart would have learned in his travels across the courts of Europe.
What may be reassuring to mere mortal musicians is how even as a musical genius, Mozart was really a working musician. His brilliant output was his way of making a living. He wrote on commission, and when he was writing for himself it was for a concert performance with a paying audience.
The film debunks a number of myths about Mozart's life introduced by the 1984 film Amadeus. Although he had a lot of debts, Mozart was not a pauper when he died. The likely cause of death was rheumatic fever—he was not poisoned. No mention is made at all of Salieri although it was acknowledged that Mozart did make enemies of other less talented but more politically savvy court composers.
The film's final image is a graphic illustration of Mozart's prodigious output. A stack of manuscript books seems to go on forever as the camera pans up.
There's almost too much information in this film. At a runtime of 128 minutes it packs a lot of biographic information, interviews, and music into a dense package—too many notes! Even so, this is not the ultimate documentary on Mozart. In the Q&A after the movie, Grabsky mentions that the first cut of the film was over 12 hours long.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
VIFF Review: El Benny
El Benny
September 30, 2007 6:40pm
Granville 7 Theatre 3
El Benny is a fictionalized account of Cuban singer Benny Moré. The film starts at a low point in Benny's life. He is a heavy drinker and a womanizer, which strains the relationship with his wife, and his orchestra leader to the breaking point.
He is fired from the orchestra, but his troubles are soon forgotten with a chance encounter with an admiring cab driver. Olimpio offers Benny a space at his home for him to rehearse, and form a new band. Benny is smitten with Olimpio's teenage niece Aida, and she is equally drawn to him, much to Olimpio's dismay.
His life swings again as he has a falling out with his long time music partner pianist Monchy. Olimpio can no longer stand the advances on his niece and throws Benny out of his home. But life turns again as a young musician who pursues Benny to record his songs becomes his new pianist and brings in other young musicians to form a new band.
Benny's life is as unstable as the political situation in 1950's Cuba. When General Batista declares martial law, troops prowl the streets rounding up dissidents. When Olimpio and Aida are targeted, Benny intervenes. His popularity saves them as the agent in charge is a fan and lets them go. Olimpio becomes the band's manager and eventually relents to letting Benny and Aida marry.
Through the ups and downs of Benny's life the only constant are the terrific musical performances. Benny is a charmer on stage and off stage. Women cannot resist him and he cannot resist them. He has a mesmerizing effect on the audience.
The film is not perfect. The side plots get confusing at times and the flashbacks don't always make sense. Despite these problems, the story of a passionately lived life is clear. Benny collapses at a performance at the age of 43, his hard living and drinking finally catching up with him. Actual newsreel footage of Benny's funeral with all of Havana turning out shows his real popularity.
September 30, 2007 6:40pm
Granville 7 Theatre 3
El Benny is a fictionalized account of Cuban singer Benny Moré. The film starts at a low point in Benny's life. He is a heavy drinker and a womanizer, which strains the relationship with his wife, and his orchestra leader to the breaking point.
He is fired from the orchestra, but his troubles are soon forgotten with a chance encounter with an admiring cab driver. Olimpio offers Benny a space at his home for him to rehearse, and form a new band. Benny is smitten with Olimpio's teenage niece Aida, and she is equally drawn to him, much to Olimpio's dismay.
His life swings again as he has a falling out with his long time music partner pianist Monchy. Olimpio can no longer stand the advances on his niece and throws Benny out of his home. But life turns again as a young musician who pursues Benny to record his songs becomes his new pianist and brings in other young musicians to form a new band.
Benny's life is as unstable as the political situation in 1950's Cuba. When General Batista declares martial law, troops prowl the streets rounding up dissidents. When Olimpio and Aida are targeted, Benny intervenes. His popularity saves them as the agent in charge is a fan and lets them go. Olimpio becomes the band's manager and eventually relents to letting Benny and Aida marry.
Through the ups and downs of Benny's life the only constant are the terrific musical performances. Benny is a charmer on stage and off stage. Women cannot resist him and he cannot resist them. He has a mesmerizing effect on the audience.
The film is not perfect. The side plots get confusing at times and the flashbacks don't always make sense. Despite these problems, the story of a passionately lived life is clear. Benny collapses at a performance at the age of 43, his hard living and drinking finally catching up with him. Actual newsreel footage of Benny's funeral with all of Havana turning out shows his real popularity.
VIFF Review: Control
Control
September 29, 2007 2:30pm
Granville 7 Theatre 3
Out of the late 1970's punk movement in the UK came Joy Division which became famous for inspiring other bands, and out of whose ashes was born the seminal 1980's New Wave synthesizer-based band New Order. Singer Ian Curtis's suicide sealed his, and Joy Division's place in musical history. This film is Ian's story.
This period piece is filmed in black and white to emphasize the bleak economic and social conditions of mid-70's Britain. Macclesfield is an undistinguished small town outside of Manchester. Ian is a moody teenager who loves Ziggy Stardust era David Bowie, and quotes Wordsworth. His ennui is broken when he falls in love with his best mate Nick's girlfriend Debbie, and impulsively marries her.
Ian joins his friends' band Warsaw as the lead singer. His life becomes very full working days at the employment office, nights with the newly renamed Joy Division, and with a wife and daughter to support.
As the bands successes grows Ian's personal life unravels. Ian spends more time with the band and less time with his family. His marriage falls apart, and he has an affair with another woman.
Ian's physical condition also deteriorates. He develops epilepsy, but the drugs of the day only seem to worsen his mental state. Each performance seems to drain the energy out of him. He smokes, and drinks far too much.
On the eve of a US tour which very likely would have propelled them to stardom, the pressures become too much to bear and Ian ends it all at the tender age of 23.
The performances by the mostly unknown talents (on this side of the Atlantic anyway) are terrific. Sam Riley's gaunt features and pinched expression are eerily close to the real Curtis. Samantha Morton is the only big name star playing Debbie Curtis. Toby Kebbell is a scene stealer as the hilariously fast talking band manager Rob Gretton.
Along with the great musical performances, this film brings the punk era and Ian Curtis to life once more.
September 29, 2007 2:30pm
Granville 7 Theatre 3
Out of the late 1970's punk movement in the UK came Joy Division which became famous for inspiring other bands, and out of whose ashes was born the seminal 1980's New Wave synthesizer-based band New Order. Singer Ian Curtis's suicide sealed his, and Joy Division's place in musical history. This film is Ian's story.
This period piece is filmed in black and white to emphasize the bleak economic and social conditions of mid-70's Britain. Macclesfield is an undistinguished small town outside of Manchester. Ian is a moody teenager who loves Ziggy Stardust era David Bowie, and quotes Wordsworth. His ennui is broken when he falls in love with his best mate Nick's girlfriend Debbie, and impulsively marries her.
Ian joins his friends' band Warsaw as the lead singer. His life becomes very full working days at the employment office, nights with the newly renamed Joy Division, and with a wife and daughter to support.
As the bands successes grows Ian's personal life unravels. Ian spends more time with the band and less time with his family. His marriage falls apart, and he has an affair with another woman.
Ian's physical condition also deteriorates. He develops epilepsy, but the drugs of the day only seem to worsen his mental state. Each performance seems to drain the energy out of him. He smokes, and drinks far too much.
On the eve of a US tour which very likely would have propelled them to stardom, the pressures become too much to bear and Ian ends it all at the tender age of 23.
The performances by the mostly unknown talents (on this side of the Atlantic anyway) are terrific. Sam Riley's gaunt features and pinched expression are eerily close to the real Curtis. Samantha Morton is the only big name star playing Debbie Curtis. Toby Kebbell is a scene stealer as the hilariously fast talking band manager Rob Gretton.
Along with the great musical performances, this film brings the punk era and Ian Curtis to life once more.
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