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SWAN SONG

Today's movie was Alexsander Sokurov's

Altovaya sonata. Dmitri Shostakovich / Sonata for Viola (1981)

A documentary devoted to Dimitry Shostakovich, mostly wedding contemporary film footage with his various works.

The Sonata for Viola was his last work, finished on the day of his death. He never heard it performed. Obviously.

His temporary "disgrace" at the Communist Party's rejection of his 8th and 9th Symphonies is shown without comment as is his award of the Lenin Prize after things cooled down with the aparatchiks.

The music is great. The pictures are interesting.

I am glad that I saw it but it has a kind of disruption all through it that is distracting. Back and forth in time and topic.

I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5 or, maybe, a 2 if I like it less on reflection. I like the music which gives it points the film part shouldn't have. He did the music not the film makers.

Labels: films