One of the first US born conductors to receive worldwide fame, Leonard Bernstein is an exceptional composer and certainly not only due to The West Side Story. Instead of concentrating exclusively on his most famous work, Thomas von Steinaecker sets out to paint a complete picture of Bernstein. Thus, the documentary focusses on the American’s less known later works and on three compositions in particular: his Mass, the musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the great final opera A Quiet Place. The film paints a vivid picture of the multitalented Bernstein, struggling with his role as composer and conductor, tackling the tension between successes and flops, between the politics of his time and his own liberal humanitarian claim. It looks back on Bernstein’s major achievements, such as his acclaimed conducting of Mahler and his involvement in the Young People’s Concerts, and it shows Bernstein’s work with young aspiring musicians as well as his political commitment.
Director
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Status
Released
Original Language
DE
Program of 4 short films: 1) AT MADAME POULE: Poor Madame Poule! His chicken elder does as he pleases. He looks up at the dishes she is preparing for him. Until the day when she has had enough ... 2) THE SEWN MOUTH: A character with a sad and lost look gets on a bus with a pizza in his hands. He is almost seated when the driver falls suddenly. His pizza flies and falls ... 3) IS: A little girl has a nervous breakdown after an argument with her parents. But what can she do to calm down? 4) THE WINTER OF LEON: Winter is falling on the kingdom and the mountain ogre takes away the beautiful princess Mélie Pain d'Epice. Leon, a young bear adopted by a couple of beekeepers, runs away and falls into the hands of Boniface, the storyteller.
