SEYMOUR: AN INTRODUCTION

Showings

Ped Mall -Scene 1 Fri, May 1, 2015 4:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Fri, May 1, 2015 6:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Fri, May 1, 2015 8:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Sat, May 2, 2015 6:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Sat, May 2, 2015 8:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Sun, May 3, 2015 1:15 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Sun, May 3, 2015 5:00 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Mon, May 4, 2015 8:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Tue, May 5, 2015 7:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Wed, May 6, 2015 5:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Thu, May 7, 2015 5:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Thu, May 7, 2015 7:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Fri, May 15, 2015 2:00 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Fri, May 15, 2015 6:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Sat, May 16, 2015 4:00 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Sun, May 17, 2015 4:00 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Mon, May 18, 2015 6:00 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Tue, May 19, 2015 8:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Wed, May 20, 2015 5:30 PM
Ped Mall -Scene 1 Thu, May 21, 2015 6:00 PM
Film Info
Rating:PG
Runtime:84 mins
Director:Ethan Hawke
Year Released:2015
Production Country:USA

Description

"Like a touching master class on living correctly, listening to the charming Bernstein will have you changing keys." -Colin Colvert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Hawke's film is very well crafted, tightly edited and elegantly photographed. The acute musical selections only add to our appreciation of Seymour's selfless devotion to his art." -Stephen Farber, Hollywood Reporter

"In his calm defense of beauty, craftsmanship, intellectual curiosity and emotional connection as vital human needs, this is one artist who knows he doesn’t have to raise his voice to speak volumes." -Justin Chang, Variety

Seymour Bernstein isn't well known, but he's deeply cherished by those who do know him. Living in a small Manhattan apartment at age 85, he appears fully content with his choice to forgo a promising career as a concert pianist in order to teach music. Now Ethan Hawke, one of his greatest admirers, takes us into Bernstein's world with this delicately crafted film, offering a wise and charismatic reflection on art and life.

Hawke mostly stays off camera and lets Bernstein do the talking — and the man is a sweet-natured font of thought-provoking stories as he reminisces about his experiences growing up, playing piano for soldiers in the Korean War, and struggling with performance anxiety. As Hawke recalls, he first met Bernstein at a dinner party while grappling with the question "why make art?," and that theme winds its way through the film as the teacher carries on conversations with accomplished friends such as art critic Michael Kimmelman and religious scholar Andrew Harvey. He also reflects on the careers of pianists Glenn Gould and Clifford Curzon, seen in archival footage, and his deep love of piano music proves infectious.

Hawke shows himself to be a sensitive documentary portraitist, adding to his accomplishments as an actor, fiction director, and novelist. Calling to mind MY DINNER WITH ANDRE, his film is full of urbane conversation and infused with the sophisticated rhythms of New York City. Whether aficionados or newcomers to the world of classical music, viewers will find much to gain from this introduction to Seymour. (Toronto International Film Festival).