VIFF Review: The Young Romantic

The Young Romantic: A Portrait of Yundi Li
Granville 7 Theatre 1
Saturday, September 27 2008 3:00pm

This film starts with an amazing statistic. There are 20 million budding concert pianists in China. And they all aspire to be like 25 year-old Chinese concert pianist Yundi Li. Because he is the first Chinese gold medal winner of the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition in 2000, and the first gold medalist since 1985. The gold medal was not awarded in 1990 or 1995 (the competition is held every five years) because no entrant was judged good enough.

We meet his parents who have all his memorabilia proudly displayed in their home. The walls and shelves are packed with gold records, trophies, awards, newspapers, and magazines. Their pride in his achievements is tempered by their sadness at his absence as he tours China and around the world.

We also meet several of his music teachers, including Mrs. Tan, his first teacher who taught him accordion and sparked his love for music. She is a passionate and intense music teacher. The sweat drips from her brow as she vigorously conducts her young pupils who look no older than 5 or 6.

Li is no less passionate or intense. The sweat runs down his cheeks as he rehearses for his debut concert performing Prokofiev's technically demanding Piano Concerto No. 2 with Maestro Seiji Ozawa and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Ozawa is very warm and encouraging with Li, and mentors him as he was mentored by the legendary Herbert Von Karajan.

Li has rock star status in China. In one remarkable sequence, he appears as a guest at the concert of Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou. It's not every concert pianist other than maybe Elton John who gets risen up on a platform from under the stage to play piano duo with Chou in a Hong Kong stadium filled with thousands of screaming fans.

We really only get to see one side of Li's life. His life seems to be exclusively focused on the music. He is a dedicated performer who spends most of his hours practicing. The only relationships documented are with his family, teachers, and musicians.

The film ends as Li and Ozawa hug and take the stage at the Berliner Philharmonie.

If you can't make it to the final screening at Granville 7 Theatre 2 on Friday October 3 10:30am, you can catch this film on Bravo! channel Sunday October 12 5:00pm PST.