Seymour: An Introduction
Director: Ethan Hawke
Year Released: 2014
Rating: 3.0
Hawke's ode to master piano instructor/composer Seymour Bernstein emphasizes Bernstein's dogged pursuit of total mastery in performing his art and in instructing others to become better at playing. Although the documentary consists of acolytes heaping praise upon the man (the "introduction" part of the title, borrowed from a J.D. Salinger short story, offers its own self-criticism), Bernstein does deserve credit for his devotion and skill, and his method of teaching is at once direct and compassionate (this would make an intriguing double bill with Whiplash). Helping out considerably is that Bernstein is a charismatic and articulate philosopher-type, so the entire film feels like a warm, entrancing lesson in the importance of music (even in wartime!).
