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Critic's Grade: B-
Seymour Bernstein is a calm, quiet old pianist whoâs lived a one-room apartment for 57 years. He doesnât perform in concert halls anymore. He practices and he teaches. This ascetic lifestyle is only fitting in a documentary as concerned with mysticism as it is with music.
If you can get past the occasional shallow interludes from director Ethan Hawke, there is a lot of interesting material to be seen in Seymour: An Introduction. Interviews with the titular pianist, conversations between Bernstein and his friends or former pupils and footage of him instructing the next generation give a detailed portrait of Bernstein the man. Tearfully, Bernsteinâs remembers his military service in Korea, where he produced classical concerts for his comrades. But most interesting are the interactions between Bernstein and his current students. Heâs calm, reassuring and physical in his instruction and strict in his views on practicing. Each encounter offers a window into who he is and why he is beloved.
Alas, Hawkeâs occasional interjections hold the documentary back. He tells the crowd about how Bernstein helped him appreciate craft above material wealth...or something redeeming like that. Not a pianist himself, Hawke parallels his own art (acting) with Bernsteinâs, both elevating artistry over material wealth in the way only people who donât balk at buying Steinways can. These passages sound flatâespecially to the ears of a freelance writer such as myself. Interspersing these shallow musings with Bernsteinâs story of a wealthy dowager gifting him keys to her 10 bedroom mansion doesnât help.
Music can induce ecstasy, and once youâve experienced ecstasy nothing less will suffice. So says a British theologist to Bernstein. (This comment is clumsily accompanied by footage of a Beatles concert with screaming fans so the young viewers will understand.) And you can see the ecstasy as Glenn Gould, Sir Clifford Curzon and Bernstein himself touch the pianoâs keys. These moments are welcome interruptions to the lengthy segments of Seymour Bernstein, life coach.
WWeek 2015