Day 3 @ MSPIFF 2015: 'Virtuosity' Reviewed
Allow me a personal indulgence. One year ago this month, I auditioned in MacPhail School of Music's concerto competition. It was the first time I'd tried out for anything on piano since high school. I chose as my audition piece one of the only things that my limited skill set could handle and, at the same time, still excited me musically -- the second movement of Aram Khachaturian's Piano Concerto, a heavy, tormented, grinding piece of Slavic majesty.
I advanced to the final round of auditions, but wasn't selected as one of the ultimate winners. I wasn't disappointed; on the contrary, advancing at all reminded me of how thrilling the competitive element was when I was in grade school, even though as an adult with little time to practice, I've shifted my priorities to focus on playing strictly for enjoyment and the emotional fortitude it provides.
Virtuosity, a new documentary playing at the MSPIFF, features roughly two dozen artists for whom competition is a way of life. The film follows some 30 odd pianists from around the world as they converge in Fort Worth, Texas for the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, a grueling three-week extravaganza. Invariably young (pianists, like professional athletes, hit their stride in the bloom of twentysomething), the musicians' approach to the prestigious contest varies widely. Some seem grounded, like the utterly affable Sean Chen admitting that championship bouts are, so to speak, a necessary evil in the field of classical music, where making a name for yourself to an already rarified audience is an uphill battle. Others, such as the brilliant and utterly unflappable Nikolay Khozyainov, make for compelling pseudo-villains. Asked if he gets nervous before competitions, Nikolay responds directly: "No. Why would I?" (Indeed.)
If you're a fan of classical music, the footage of the competition alone will prove electrifying -- it's a parade of Chopin, Bach, Schumann, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Bartok, Ligeti, and Ravel, whose heart-stoppingly beautiful "Gaspard De La Nuit" serves a bit garishly as a suspense-building backdrop. (Not the first time "Gaspard" has been pulled wildly out of context. The piece is likely best known to Minneapolitans for being used as the mural on the old Schmitt Music building, but if you haven't listened to the work in its entirety, do yourself the favor.) And if you're not into classical, the duck-outta-water interludes showcasing the international virtuosos immersing themselves into deep Texas culture will carry you through.
But really, it's the confluence of both elements that makes Virtuoso more than a boutique prospect. Early in the film, competition president Jacques Marquis explains how the pianists are instructed not to perform for the audience or even the judges but to approach each of their selections as an opportunity to dig inward and present, to the best of their abilities, their own unique voices. This is precisely what the film itself does beautifully, and will hopefully spark in its viewers an iTunes spending spree immediately thereafter.
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Other Highlights For Saturday, April 11
The Unearthing (Tristan James Jensen, USA) If pianists start young, so do many filmmakers. Check out 17-year-old Tristan James Jensen's debut feature, about a teen girl's move to Stillwater, Minnesota, and their investigations into the unknown. Which for many in the Twin Cities is ... Stillwater. (11 a.m.)
The Second Life of Thieves (Woo Ming Jin, Malaysia-Netherlands-Switzerland) Heralded as an unusually poetic film, The Second Life of Thieves spans time and sexuality alike. (11 p.m.)
Cub (Jonas Govaerts, Belgium) The new horror renaissance has been on a tear over the last few years, and Cub's reviews suggest it's set to stand alongside the likes of The Babadook and It Follows as one of the new cult classics. (10:45 p.m.)
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For the festival schedule, and a complete listing of all the movies being shown, click here. Ticket information is available here.
Throughout the entirety of the 2015 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival, WCCO.com will be spotlighting one notable movie each day, along with other notable screenings. To see WCCO.com's complete coverage on the MSPIFF, click here.
