The Bolero (1973) - In Search of CΘzanne (2002)

<http://tiny.cc/Bolero/

Description: As producer, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Allan Miller presents
two short works. First, the Academy Award winner 'The Bolero' features Zubin
Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra preparing for a recital of the
classic Ravel composition, followed by the complete performance.

'In Search of CΘzanne' follows a fellow documentarian's quest from New York to
Paris to better understand the life and work of the celebrated artist.

Miller is renowned for his work studying art (of all sorts) and the people that
make it; his films 'The Bolero' and 'From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China'
won Academy Awards, while his 'Small Wonders' (another Oscar nominee) was the
inspiration for the Meryl Streep film 'Music of the Heart'.

Both films are presented in their original full screen formats. 'The Bolero'
was shot on film, and it shows, with grain and softness prevailing. 'CΘzanne',
shot on digital video, looks crisper and cleaner all around.

Both movies' soundtracks are presented in Dolby stereo. 'The Bolero' especially
shines here, for obvious reasons. No subtitles are provided for 'The Bolero'.
'CΘzanne' offers embedded English subs only for scenes featuring French
dialogue.
==============================================================================
The Bolero (1973)

<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069812/

Directors: Allan Miller; William Fertik

Conductor: Zubin Mehta with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

Instrumentalists: Anne Diener Giles [flute]
                  Michele Zukovsky [clarinet]
                  Alan Goodman [bassoon]
                  Merritt Buxbaum [E-flat clarinet]
                  Barbara Winters [oboe d'amore]
                  Robert Divall [trumpet]
                  Franklin Stokes [tenor saxaphone]
                  Harvey Pettel [soprano saxaphone]
                  Henry Sigismonti [French horn]
                  Miles Zentner [piccolo]
                  H Dennis Smith [trombone]
                  David Fresina [concert master]

Description: Allan Miller shares directing credit on 'The Bolero' (1973) with
William Fertik, who also co-edited. The film is broken into two pieces: the
first introduces us to the members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; the second
captures their rousing performance of Ravel's masterpiece. Both halves are
endlessly mesmerizing. The idea of the first half is to break down the barrier
between audience and symphony, allowing us to meet these artists on an
individual level, discovering why they choose to play music and hearing their
thoughts on the power of the art form. We meet men and women who left boring
jobs behind to find magic as part of a symphony, men and women who couldn't
imagine any other kind of life.

More importantly, we learn how a symphony functions as a unit: the duties of
the conductor and the musicians, how they work together on a fragile level.
(One false bit of timing from one member, and an entire section can go out of
whack!) Once this information settles, we're let in on what makes Ravel's
composition so powerful, how a simple, repetitive melody can grow into
something so much more.

The film's second portion is a performance that further breaks those audience-
performer barriers. As the symphony performs the titular work, the cameras come
up close to the performers. Instead of a single wide shot of the symphony as a
whole, we're treated to shots of the group on an individual, personal level.
As the music builds to its climax, the camera turns to conductor Zubin Mehta,
who becomes wrapped up in the music's majesty.

And once the music ends, so does the film. It's a straightforward, unassuming
piece, one that succeeds in bringing classical music closer to the listener.

Time: 25:58
==============================================================================
In Search of CΘzanne (2002)

<http://tiny.cc/Cezanne/

Director: Allan Miller

Cast: Jacqueline Kim, Mary Tompkins Lewis, Ephraim Rubenstein, Calvin Brown,
Paul Resika, Denis Coutagne, Michel Fraisset, Phillipe CΘzanne, Casey Wayne

Description: 'In Search of CΘzanne' (2002) is quite a different work. Here,
Miller mixes documentary and fiction in an attempt to explore the art of the
French painter Paul CΘzanne, while also offering a commentary on the act of
studying art.

Jacqueline Kim plays Martha, a young filmmaker who has recently fallen in love
with the work of CΘzanne. When we meet her, she has decided to make a
documentary on the artist in hopes of shedding light on her new obsession,
which leads to an interesting debate among the small gathering of artists and
scholars she meets in a museum: is it better to learn all you can about an
artist, thus allowing you to fully understand his point of view, or is it
better to let your own life lead you along, succumbing to the art on your
own terms?

Miller's film suggests a middle ground. As Martha visits France to meet with
museum curators and even CΘzanne's grandson, the message becomes clear:
It is wonderful to want to learn about the life and history of an artist,
Miller suggests, but do not assume that a lack of such knowledge should
prevent you from enjoying great art, which should speak to you as you see fit.

Throughout this, Miller sneaks in plenty of facts about CΘzanne's life,
and we see dozens of the painter's works in great detail. The fictional
outline to this documentary may seem questionable at first, but it ultimately
makes sense, allowing Miller to get to all the facts without all the dryness
of a typical documentary. Plus, the Martha character can convey an excitement
for the subject that a straight documentary might not feel comfortable handling.

Time: 26:04
==============================================================================
DVD Format: NTSC

DVD5: 2.74 GiB - Exact Copy (No Redux)

Color: Color

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Language: English

Subtitle: None

Closed Captioned: No

Commentary: None

Extras: Director's Notes; Allan Miller Biography; Four Previews (07:55)

Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0

Total Time: 52:02

DVD Studio: First Run Features

Release Date: 2007-05-22

ASIN: B000NJL4RG

UPC: 720229912693

Posting Date: 08 September 2011

Posting Group: alt.binaries.dvd

Contact: alt.binaries.multimedia.d

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