Pianoforte
Jakub Piatek
2023, 91 mins.
The Olympics of piano
Unlike most of my film critic colleagues, I can approach this production about classical musicians competing amongst themselves from a singular point of view. As an up-and-coming conductor, I competed in the Villa Lobos competition (where the esteemed composer’s wife created an extra award for a Russian that she so admired…), a Budapest competition (where I was shown on TV as an American during the stormy Jimmy Carter years), and finally taking first prize at Canada’s Heinz Unger competition in 1982.
With all of those experiences under my belt, let me just say that competing for prizes while plying our most universal art, has little to do with actual excellence, but much more about hype, publicity and hungry agents.
In this retelling of the 2021 Chopin Piano Competition (won by Canada’s Bruce Liu, whom I’ve yet to encounter in person or on disc—no fault of his), Piatek convincingly chronicles the behind-the-scenes nerves, hurdles, uncompromising teachers and contestants’ inner demons that ring true from first chord to final cadence. (The de rigueur Chopin concerto sequence features the Warsaw Philharmonic and the not always razor-sharp accompaniments led by Andrzej Boreyko.)
For neophytes to the offstage comings, goings and drama of extremely talented musicians trying to come out on top, the production offers an intriguing look at their perilous road to the final. Best in show is the superb editing (Ula Klimek-Piatek) that seamlessly joins rehearsals to performances from multiple competitors in Academy Award-winning style.
Do have a look/listen but never, ever choose your next concert or CD based on any winner of these competitions that fail to demonstrably separate the wheat from the clef! JWR
My Sunshine
Hiroshi Okuyama
2025, 90 mins.
The joy of, apparently, proper blades
Recently (cross-reference below), there seems to be a bumper crop of films that, on the outside, have very little to do with what they might really be about. Probably that’s good for the producers, as their productions will find saleable legs in more markets than one. But for moviegoers, it means extra work.
In this instance, the plot seems as innocuous as it is innocent. A very young boy (Keitatsu Koshiyama playing the stuttering Takuya) is letting in more goals than he stops on the neighbourhood hockey team. A talented young girl (graceful in almost every step is Kiara Takanashi as Sakura) in search of a partner for ice doubles. Bringing them together is coach Arakawa (Sôsuke Ikematsu gives the best performance of the lot as he struggles with encouraging his charges, yet still finding a way to be true to himself).
So far, so good.
With copious amounts of Debussy in the background, the unlikely pair gradually find their strengths, confidence and forever hopes of a gold medal somewhere.
On the cusp of that very goal, Sakura witnesses an innocent moment that brings her extreme-conservative background front and centre.
With relationships suddenly destroyed (on both sides of centre ice), a chance meeting on a metaphoric bridge sends this narrative into overtime.
Lesson learned (or not)? Life is neither about winning or losing, but just understanding then playing the game.
The sequel awaits. JWR