Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1994)
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89% of critics liked it
(19 reviews) -
79% of users liked it
(4,166 ratings)
The highly acclaimed and famously eccentric classical pianist Glenn Gould is the subject of this idiosyncratic film portrait. As the title suggests, Gould's life is explored through a series of thirty-two self-contained but interrelated vignettes, a structure inspired by Bach's… More The highly acclaimed and famously eccentric classical pianist Glenn Gould is the subject of this idiosyncratic film portrait. As the title suggests, Gould's life is explored through a series of thirty-two self-contained but interrelated vignettes, a structure inspired by Bach's "Goldberg Variations," the compositions that were the basis for one of Gould's most famous recordings. Fictional recreations, many starring an excellent Colm Feore as Gould, follow the musician from his precocious childhood to his early death at the age of fifty. Juicy biographical details like a surprising early retirement from public performance and an addiction to prescription drugs are featured prominently, but equal attention is paid to Gould's challenging theoretical ideas. Director Francois Girard refuses to provide easy explanations for the pianist's quirks, instead using his unconventional structure to provide great insight while suggesting the real Gould remains essentially unknowable. Especially interesting is the film's mix of dramatization and documentary, as it juxtaposes its fictional recreations with actual interviews with Gould's friends and associates. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Directed By
- François Girard
- Written By
- Don McKellar, François Girard, Glenn Gould
- Genres
- Documentary, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Art House & International
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Sep 14, 1993 Wide
- On DVD
- Feb 20, 2001
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of the great documentaries, or if you will semi-documentaries.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The film's strategy is to present many diverse fragments about Gould, each capturing an aspect of his artistry and/or personality, so that the cumulative effect would give the viewer a glimpse of the man and his times.
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Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
...but not one long one.
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Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
An engaging and rather appropriate perspective on the gifted and eccentric musician.
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Imaginative and engaging work of art which pioneers a new form of screen biography.
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Cast
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Colm Feore
as Glenn Gould
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Gale Garnett
as Journalist
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Katya Ladan
as Gould's Mother
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Gerry Quigley
as Music Critic
- Carlo Rota
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Peter Millard
as CBS Engineer
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Conrad Bergschneider
as Trucker
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John Dolan
as CBS Assistant Engineer
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Maia Filar
as Girl
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Marie-Josée Gauthier
as Professor
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James Kidnie
as Photographer
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Guy Thauvette
as Trucker
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Don McKellar
as Concert Promoter
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Dick Callahan
as Trucker
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Frank Canino
as Waiter
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Ian D. Clark
as Phillip Brennan
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David Clement
as Desmond
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Derek Keurvost
as Gould's Father
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Megan Smith
as Interviewee
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Len Doncheff
as Broker
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R.D. Reid
as Trucker
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David Young
as Writer
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David Hughes
as Stagehand
- Kate Hennig
