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PIANO

Today's film was the competition documentary

They Came to Play

From the IMDb

"Chronicles the Fifth International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, hosted by The Van Cliburn Foundation. Players from all over the world, ranging from self-taught to classically-trained, aged thirty-five to almost eighty, convene in Fort Worth, Texas for a week of intense competition, music and camaraderie. The film the film provides an intimate look into the lives of these colorful, multi-faceted competitors as they strive to balance the demands of work and family with their love of music. Years of dedicated preparation culminate in critical performances before a professional jury and discerning audience during three nerve-wracking elimination rounds"

Couldn't do better myself.

There are very few reviews. I think it is a film made by the Cliburn Foundation for their own use.

It got an 8.0 out of 10, a very high rating, on IMDb.

I don't know how I found out about it but I am glad that I did.

This is a genré now. A few competitors are shown and interviewed, we see the competition. In this case 75 amateur pianists selected through tapes and letters. They got 6000 applications. Winnowed down we have 75 invited to Houston. Then 6 selected for the big finale.

It is well done. The music that is played is very good. These are people who might have been professionals but chose not to run that race and they kept up the work.

I particularly enjoyed this film and the people in it.

Again, I wonder how they got interviews with all the people who were finalists long before they went to Fort Worth TX. Maybe they took a chance or maybe the interviewed a lot of the 75 selected. It always bothers me that this can happen. I am not suspicious at all but there has to be more than a little help from the Foundation.

I liked most of the people. They have a story to tell and play extremely well. Some play it safe but most perform extremely difficult works.

I am glad that I saw it. It is my piano fix for awhile.

No. I was never anywhere near the class that these people were even when they were kids.

I will give it a 3 out of Netflix 5.

A few shots of Cliburn who is no longer shy about being gay as a goose. Good for him.

Labels: films