Glenn Gould was one of the most celebrated and controversial classical musicians of the 20th century, a pianist whose approach to the work of Bach and Brahms represented a bold and inventive new take on the composers' styles, and whose obsessive quest for perfectionism while rejecting the influence of the audience led him to abandon live performances in favor of recording in 1964, only nine years after the release of his celebrated interpretation of Bach's "Goldberg Variations." While Gould's
very public eccentricities have been nearly as well documented as his talents, filmmakers Michele Hozer and Peter Raymont pose a very provocative question in their documentary Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould: Was Gould truly as strange as he was believed to be, or were his quirks part of a facade the artist carefully constructed to intrigue and challenge the listening audience? Hozer and Raymont present rare footage of Gould in performance and in interviews, and examine the private life of the pianist as they explore the facts behind his legendary hypochondria, his drug use, and his relationships with women. Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould was an official selection at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Genius Within presents an artist who was, yes, "eccentric" (the gloves, the overcoat, the hypochondria), but also visionary, curious, unpredictable, and funny.
Gould remains something of a riddle wrapped in an enigma. But it's the questions that hang in the air, and not the biographical details that the film lays out, that make it so hard to take your eyes -- and your ears -- off him.
Those who believe the private life of the artist is best left in the background may not appreciate all the candid interviews with former friends and lovers. Those seeking a fuller view of Gould's life and music-making will be spellbound.
While it's not comprehensive - even at the height of his fame Gould was an enigma and remains so - Genius Within is an engaging and intriguing bio-doc.
This is a beautifully made movie that will enchant anyone coming to Gould's world for the first time and probably afford new insights and levels of appreciation to those who already know it.
I definitely left the movie feeling I had learned things about Gould I didn't know. But I also thought he had to have been a much more distinctive person than the movie made him seem.
The richness of this profile will satisfy even the most ardent fan, constantly surrounded by Gould's playing in the background; as well as often in the foreground
Having been an avid Glenn Gould fan for years, I was enthralled and fascinated to be submerged in his music and life in this riveting documentary about the man, pianist, composer and musical interpreter
I have seen this documentary film about a half dozen times now (while sharing it with friends & neighbors). I like to watch it with them so I can 'feel' the enjoyment of viewing it for the first time, along with them. (BTW, they love it every time, too)! And I love to talk it over with them, afterwards.
For those uninitiated in the ways of this eccentric Canadian pianist, it's a bit of a eye-opener. The film is well-crafted and Gould's genius which went beyond piano playing is explored detail in this off-the-radar documentary.
No quotes approved yet for Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould. Logged in users can submit quotes.
Submit a Quote from 'Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould'
A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.
Example:
Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
Top Critic
