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Release Date: September 9th, 2005 (NYC-Cinema Village) by Emerging Pictures. Directed by Daniel Anker. BASIC PREMISE: A documentary about how music affects the lives of the Philadelphia Orchestra. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: There are many interviews with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra from many different cultures. Fortunately, this is not strictly a concert film. It does not alienate all those who dislike classical music. Each musician talks about his or her experiences and share their individual thoughts about what music means to them. The music they play is very good, but the way that director Daniel Anker brings out their charismatic personalities is even more effective in creating a warm ambiance. Also, this documentary works because there is no voice-over narration that distracts from the sounds and images. This creates a very smooth flow and a steady pace for the entire film. For all aficionados of any kind of music, this is a thoroughly engaging film--but for aficionados of classical music, the soundtrack is quite good. SPIRITUAL VALUE: This is a very smart documentary because it asks the right profound questions about music, such as what it truly means to each musician. Their answers are each different and thought-provoking, but, overall, it is difficult to come up with one crystal clear answer. Just by watching and listening to the interviews, it is obvious that these musicians have chosen the right path in life: they passionately love music. Listening them talking about their personal experiences is very moving and leaves you with an appreciation for any kind of music, not just classical. INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: None. NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 0 THE BOTTOM LINE: A very moving and personal documentary about the love of music as well as how it defines musicians' lives. It certainly lives up to its title--and that alone is a remarkable achievement. This documentary is a perfect companion piece for another documentary about music appreciation called TOUCH THE SOUND. RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: Movie Theater (1st Run), especially after watching TOUCH THE SOUND at the IFC Center. Main Page Alphabetical Menu The "M" Menu ______________________________________________________ |
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