Sadly, I share that Joseph Smith, one of the pianists who appears in the film and who studied under Mr. Bernstein, passed away this weekend. I haven't seen the film yet but just as this review suggests of the personality of his mentor, Joe had a keen intellect, was opinionated yet loveable and thoroughly authentic. I imagine the film bears this out.
That's very sad. I watched the film this afternoon and Mr. Smith seemed so alive in it that it's hard to imagine that he's gone. He certainly gave the impression of a person who will be missed by those who knew him.
It truly is a wonderful film.
It truly is a wonderful film.
I just saw Seymour: An Introduction in the East Bay (CA) It's a film treasure worth running to see!
https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/run-to-see-seymour-an-introduct...
https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/run-to-see-seymour-an-introduct...
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the best movie of the year. Honest, story telling sharing of values, hard work and ethics, culture and art. Life at it's best.
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Clearly not a dramatization of the Salinger novella of the same title. Has there been a lawsuit from the Salinger estate?
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It would do them no good. Except in very limited circumstances the titles of literary works (and movies) cannot be copyrighted.
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Saw this wonderful movie! Such a beautiful tribute to Seymour and
yet, says so much about Ethan Hawke.
yet, says so much about Ethan Hawke.
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Seymour is my dear pianist friend whom I've blogged about well before the docu was made. We visited together as his West Side apartment over two years ago and shared the muse. It was a memorable afternoon.
https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2012/12/06/my-nyc-visit-with-seymour-berns...
https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2012/12/06/my-nyc-visit-with-seymour-berns...
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Lucky enough to attend two master classes in his ridiculously tasteful apartment, Seymour is a perfect subject for a spotlight. (We were a class of classical guitar students). After we banged out our renditions of highlights from the repertoire I asked him somewhat timidly if he would play some Brahms for us, with which request he generously compiled gracefully stepping to the piano. My it was magical. An intermezzo. I left feeling inspired to practice and am eternally grateful for the experience. There are buddha-like teachers in the world and we certainly need to share and cherish them more often.
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Re: "Many of us may not have felt equipped for war when we were trying to coax grace, beauty, something, from our sheet music, but that’s scarcely the point."
The term "sheet music" does not refer to any printed music as the reviewer seem to think; it refers to individual sheets of music (usually folded to make four pages) in contradistinction to music bound together in a folio. The correct term for any printed music is simply "music".
The term "sheet music" does not refer to any printed music as the reviewer seem to think; it refers to individual sheets of music (usually folded to make four pages) in contradistinction to music bound together in a folio. The correct term for any printed music is simply "music".
Lovely review, Ms. Dargis. "The struggle is what makes the art form." That captures it very well, wise words from Mr. Bernstein.
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What a beautiful story! I just watched the trailer and cannot wait to see this film.
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Mr Bernstein was a friend of my brothers - a cellist, and often
came to our home and played on our Steinway. There were
trios, quartets- the house was always filled with music.Wonderful
memories for this 83 yr old - hope I can get to see the movie. I also remember Gregor Piatagorsky, a great cellist, playing for us and then staying for dinner. I remember he said my mothers
soup reminded him of his mother in Russia, and her soup.
came to our home and played on our Steinway. There were
trios, quartets- the house was always filled with music.Wonderful
memories for this 83 yr old - hope I can get to see the movie. I also remember Gregor Piatagorsky, a great cellist, playing for us and then staying for dinner. I remember he said my mothers
soup reminded him of his mother in Russia, and her soup.
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I had the good fortune to see both the documentary and Mr. Hawke and Mr. Bernsteain conversing. For me the stars were in the sky that night. To honor the pursuit as part of the struggle inherent within the good life ennobled my strife. A sense of heaven was brought down to earth. I renewed my fight.
Jane Marx
Manhattan
Jane Marx
Manhattan
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