Character

Starring:Jan Decleir, Jonathan Maxwell Reeves, Fedja van HuÃªt, Betty Schuurman, Tamar van den Dop, Victor LÃ¶w, Hans Kesting, Lou LandrÃ©, Rick van Gastel, Bernard Droog, Frans Vorstman, Jack Hedley, Fred Goessens, Jasper Gottlieb, Marius Gottlieb, Pavlik Jansen op de Haar, Marisa Van Eyle, Jos Verbist, Jaap Spijkers, Kaylee van Gastel
Director: Mike van Diem
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Description

LEAP OF FAITH stars Steve Martin as Jonas Nightengale, a fraudulent faith healer who makes a living visiting small towns and giving hope in the form of prayer. Aided by his no nonsense manager, Jane (Winger), Jonas sets up his tent in a small suburb of Kansas where he soon learns that their hidden mikes, cameras and computers can't fool the neighborhood sheriff (Neeson). But, when Jonas is touched by a local waitress (Davidovich) and her disabled son Boyd (Haas), he learns something new about truth and what real miracles are made of.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Steve Martin Vehicle.......2007-05-31

Steve Martin, without his funny-man routine, turns in a great performance as the leader of a ministry of con men who is out-conned by none other than.........Jesus.

This is a film for people who wonder about life under the "Big Top" of traveling ministries where miracles MAY take place--for a price. There's always a fix in to find the truly needy under the big top and its great theatre watching Martin on stage as the man "GOD" speaks to. Until one day he actually, by hook or by crook, pulls off the big miracles no one in his gang can figure out! Martin as well!

I hated the ending, you may see why. I wanted him to go on to bigger and better cons, but the spirit got to him.

An excellent film also starring Meatloaf and Debra Winger (Winger's chacter disappoints for some reason, maybe just too unbelievable a woman would act as she does in the end.)

Overall, Martin and cast are fantastic in this film, with George Duke Gospel songs throughout, Meatloaf on the radio, and the Glen Frye title track.

I want a sequel, where Martin goes back to the pulpit and cons all the suckers again. I hope Jesus dosen't mind.

Somebody say "Amen!"

A good picture of the spiritual chaos of modern society.......2007-03-22

Very good film about a fake travelling faith healer and his entourage of employees/followers.

The story is simple enough, almost cliché, but there are a few elements that raise the film above the garbage of Hollywood industry (post 1960's). The end has been commented enough, and I agree it's a nice ending. But what interests me most are the roles played by Debra Winger, the fake man's assistant, and the nice-guy sheriff. Watching this movie from a believer's perspective I must say that they both represent the real lost, no matter how nice human beings they are. Jonas Nightengale at least faces reality with honesty; when he leaves the town we know he will not be the same man after all that happened. No matter how big his sin was: using God and the gospel for his own profit. His attitude is sincere. He is not a manipulator, as he said, because his modus operandi is too obvious, only suckers don't notice it. So who is the real smooth operator? Debra Winger?. She acts like she cares about people's feelings getting hurt, and so complains about it to Jonas, but she takes the money. Isn't she more hypocrite than him? This contrast of characters really interested me, the way it was portrayed, subtlely. What about the sheriff, such an (apparently) well-intentioned and nice man? Same thing. Obviously, one does not see him in a bad light during the film. It's afterwards, when one thinks it over. Jonas and the sheriff. The first, may have even accepted Jesus, for real this time, in spite of what he did; the second, such a nice and good fellow though, goes and sleeps with "the devil". Humm, these are the elements that make a film worth watching, that keep you thinking once it's over.

I have to write down the following lines from thescript, I think they are great: JONAS: "-I KNOW I'm a fake. KID: -But what difference does it make if it gets the job done? JONAS: -Kid, it makes all the difference in the world."

That last line is the key line to the movie. Without it the film would be also a whole world different.

One last word about the company of employees that travels along with Jonas. It's a pity there isn't more time devoted to individualize these folks a little, because they are the crowd, the ones who enter the 'wide door' instead of the 'narrow one'; the ones that shouted for Jesus to be crucified, for money, in spite of knowing Him to be innocent. Jonas may enter the narrow door (Christ); these folks are happy as can be with a wide door to hell. Tells you something about lack of character in people. Don't blame others for your faith or the lack of it. Faith is a gift from God. The lack of it is when you become a willing puppet in the hands of manipulators, for money.

Great Feel-Good Film.......2006-11-19

I have never particularly enjoyed Steve Martin as an actor, but bought this film because based upon the description, it sounded like he was made for the role. Was he ever!

Often where that's the case the supporting cast is weak, but not here. This is one of those rare cases of nearly perfect casting.

If you enjoy traditional gospel music, or even if you generally don't, you will love the musical support provided by the Angels of Mercy (including La Chanze, Delores Hall and Albertina Walker) who are superb as Jonas's choir.

There is none of the unpleasant ridicule of evangelicals (I am not one) that often characterizes films of this type. This is one where everyone comes out smelling good. Truly uplifting.

A Perpetual Favorite.......2006-06-04

Yesterday, I found this move on DVD.. Over the last 10 years or so, I wanted it on a VHS Copy that was crowded into a couple of other movies I had copied... Grainy... So the DVD is a long overdue addition to my movie collection.

I'm always moved by this movie; it touches me deeply.. Steve Martin is what everyone says: born to play the role, Incredible physical movements... But the supporting cast: Liam Nieson, Debra Winger... the contrast of the simple small town, century old houses, 100 year old oak trees.. with the big-city hustlers, everything for a buck... The miracles definately turn on the Mircle Workers... with no effort, the flow and pace inspire.

Repeated Viewings are guaranteed.

Entertaining with great music. Very thought provoking........2006-05-22

This film bears repeating viewings, revealing a new layer of meaning each time.

Martin's performance is one of his best--funny and energetic, but this is no shallow role played just for laughs. The subject of faith is explored thoroughly here, but, as in life, there are no easy answers. Although Martin's character, Jonas Nightingale, is a con man of the first order, is God working through him? Even though he may have no faith of his own, he touches the lives of ordinary people, strengthening their faith.

Jonas shows us some of the tricks of the trade in manufacturing "miracles" for the gullible, but when the real miracles happen, some tough questions are raised.

Some have criticized the ending as being weak, but I'm glad the viewer isn't handed an easy answer.

If you return for repeated viewing (as you probably will), you may find yourself examing your own faith.

Average customer rating:

Jacqueline du Pre
A sheer delight!
Jacqueline du Pre in portrait
Jacqueline du Pre In Portrait
An extraordinary artist!

Jacqueline du Pre In Portrait
Starring: Jacqueline du Pré
Manufacturer: BBC / Opus Arte
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Hilary & Jackie
Schubert: Greatest Love & Greatest Sorrow
Jacqueline du Pre - Favourite Cello Concertos ~ Boccherini, Dvorak, Elgar, Haydn, Monn, Saint-Saens, Schumann
Bach - Cello Suites / Rostropovich
Jacqueline du Pré - a lasting inspiration

ASIN: B0002ISGRO
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Description

The subject of the 1998 film "Hilary and Jackie" and gracing the cover of the August 2004 issue of Gramophone Magazine, the cellist Jacqueline du Pré remains as vibrant a figure in the public mind as she had been at the pinnacle of her career - before it was cruelly short by illness in 1973 when she was only 28 years old. The tragedy of her death is still felt by people all over the world, because this great cellist had ways of touching the heart that are given to very, very few.

Jacqueline du Pré and the Elgar Cello Concerto, a documentary by award-winning film maker Christopher Nupen, explores the artistic personality of one of the finest performing musicians of the twentieth century, with the recurring theme of her special relationship with the Elgar's melancholy Cello Concerto. The film begins with an account of what she did after the onset of her illness when she could no longer perform in public. It ends, at her own request, with a re-edited version of the original portrait film which sketches her childhood and the development of her musical talent, her meeting with Daniel Barenboim and their marriage in 1967, her special relationship with the Elgar concerto and, finally, a complete performance of the work with The New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim; a performance which has become legendary.

This DVD portrait also includes Nupen's film The Ghost, which features a performance of Beethoven's Piano Trio No. 5. This is the first in a series of Christopher Nupen films on DVD.

Future titles will include Schubert's The Trout with Jacqueline du Pré and Andrés Segovia in Portrait.

Picture Format: 4:3/16:9 • Subtitles: GB, D, F • Sound Format: LPCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Customer Reviews:

Jacqueline du Pre.......2007-05-14

Jacqueline du Pre fans should not be without this dvd. Christopher Nupen has put together a lasting tribute to a wonderful cellist. The biographical material is a retrospective of Jacquie's development as a musician "of rare and vanishing beauty". How poignantly evocative a statement!!! The dvd's culminating chapter is a complete rendition of the "Elgar Cello Concerto in E-minor". Daniel Barenboim conducts and Jacquie wrings our hearts with the passion of her playing. And if you enjoy this dvd, then you will love another Nupen dvd that puts Jacquie, Daniel Barenboim, Pinchas Zuckerman, Itzhak Perlman, and Zubin Mehta together playing Schubert's "Trout"( The Greatest Love and The Greatest Sorrow). Jacquie is 24-all of them are in their twenties-and they all have so much fun while dazzling the audience with their talented playing. I never tire of watching and listening to both these dvds and I intend to buy them as Christmas presents for some of my friends.

A sheer delight!.......2007-03-08

This DVD is a treasure for any enthusiast of the cello or admirer of the great Jacqueline du Pre. Christopher Nupen has captured on film the power and passion of Jackie as she performs the Elgar as no one has before or since. Somehow seeing her and hearing her add to the almost overwhelming experience that Elgar packed into his work. The more personal portraits of Jackie allow one to see her as a person: a brilliant, sometimes troubled artist dealing with a devastating disease. This DVD is worth having to experience it again and again.

Jacqueline du Pre in portrait.......2007-01-28

Everyrhing OK
u service is good, and the product also good
Thanks, NGB

Jacqueline du Pre In Portrait.......2006-03-11

This is a must have for fans of Jaqueline du Pre.
It provides an interesting and revealing insight into the artist.
It also provides examples of her playing which are a stunning example of her artistry

An extraordinary artist!.......2005-11-23

Here we have one of the most interesting DVD available in classical music. A documentary about Jaqueline du Pre's life and art, joining together some of the most important people in her life, like her parents, her first personal teacher, William Pleeth (her mother was really the first one who introduced Jacqueline into the world of music, as she tells in the images), her husband, Daniel Barenboim and a couple of musicians that take part in the Jacqueline's career, that brief voyage through the cello notes in a kind of magical ships, like her art was, a magician that took with her all those who listen her performances of orchestral and chamber music.

The DVD is part of a large collection of recorded music and documentaries shot by the very music knower Christopher Nupen, who had worked too with artists son great like Ashkenazy, Barenboim, Kissin... Apart from two Spanish musicians; Segovia and Halffter whom I hope will be soon on DVD like Jacqueline du Pre is now. All the documentaries, and this one too, seems to be done with a large understanding of the music by Mr. Nupen, together with a deep knowledge of what an artist is; something very important to analyse them as humans beings, and not like the `divas' others shows in many cases. The DVD is very generous in showing us lot of trailers of this Nupen's recordings, which I hope will be released in the next months or years.

The main documentary is shot in black and white and begins in the very childhood of Jacqueline du Pre, from the time she was a child. We can watch her pictures, her drawings, the first scores her mother composed to her with easy and lovely tunes... Du Pre talks about how much important this period was for her loving the music and specially the cello. We continue passing through her early years as student, listening Pleeth to explain how did he work with her, a girl defined by the English cellist as a gift of the nature, a talent that gave always a bit more in every step they gave together making music. The next years, when she knew Casals, Tortelier or Rostropovich are not very largely explained, but we have notice about them, like about her debut on the stage and on TV, as we can watch in this DVD together with her mother.

As this DVD wants to celebrate her career and her talent, Nupen don't abuse of talking about her illness very much, a multiple sclerosis that attacked her at 28. Anyway, some shots are shown from his last years, images not usually seen of the myth and that shows her still in love with the music, teaching the new cellists how to play, feel and understand the Cello Concerto, that one which is the main in her career. Watching her eyes, the way she regards the scores, the young man is breathtaking, as you can feel how much love is still in her own and how much desire and longing of playing she has. On the other hand, Du Pre is presented like the very fighter woman she was, working for improve the knowledge and treatments of her illness; probably the last and great concert and performing of her life. It's sad to watch this part, but as art is part of life it embraces everything and her courage is great enough to be known even in this way.

The two performances we can watch and listen in this DVD are the Cello Concerto by Elgar and the Piano Trio "The Ghost", by Beethoven, two wonderful pieces of some of her most loved composers (we have to remember her long relation with the Elgar Concerto, I know at least 4 different recordings -Celibidache, Barenboim DVD & CD & Barbirolli- ; like her very well known playing of Beethoven Chamber Music with her husband Daniel Barnboim for EMI).

The Elgar Concerto is her speciality, a mature piece she understood since she was quite a teenager, and which she gave new life and sense in its melancholic and magical style, full, of lyrics and desire of enjoining a life that is going. The performance is a bit more mature of the other CD recordings that I know, specially in du Pre's hands; she shows herself more introspective and technical, but, of course, never forgetting her very passion and romantic style which admires everybody. Barenboim conducting is very clear and precise, and the understanding between them is a real chapter in the history of music. Superb and outstanding version.

The Ghost Trio is a piece described as one of the most impressive documents of music ever recorded and filmed. Based on the communication of the players, most of them by the looks and the eyes, and because of them instinctive playing, the film shows the most incredible performance of the work I know, even better than the recording they made for EMI. Romantic and perfect Beethoven.

The recordings are good for being from that time, specially Beethoven's Trio, that has quite good sound.

In sum, a DVD for not to be missed, a jewel for all the lovers of classical music and specially for those who love the cello and this outstanding and sadness brief artist that was Jacqueline du Pre, a miracle of communication and an inspiring example even decades after she died, at least in her human form.

John Wooden - Values, Victory and Peace of Mind

Average customer rating:

The Legend speaks!
Outstanding!
Simply terrific!
Simply terrific!
The Wisdom of Wooden

John Wooden - Values, Victory and Peace of Mind
Starring: John Wooden
Manufacturer: Santa Fe Ventures,Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
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Wooden on Leadership
Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success: Building Blocks for a Better Life
Wooden
My Personal Best : Life Lessons from an All-American Journey
Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Playbook: Applying the Pyramid of Success to Your Life

ASIN: B0000AR6MB
Release Date: 2003-03-01

Amazon.com

Legendary basketball coach John Wooden, who was revered as the "Wizard of Westwood" while guiding UCLA to 10 national championships (including an astounding seven in a row), presents his philosophy for success in life in this intelligently produced video that transcends the world of basketball. After a notable career as a college player at Purdue, Wooden graduated in 1932 and became an English teacher. And his love of literature and his thoughtful nature are very much on display as Wooden, at the age of 90, sits before an intimate audience and presents his "Pyramid of Success." In Wooden's system, attributes such as friendship, initiative, poise, and confidence all build upon each other to create the pinnacle of "great competitive success." Wooden, speaking in a gentle and articulate manner, offers anecdotes from his decades of coaching, and punctuates his lessons with dramatic vintage game clips showing some of the great players he coached. Appearing in interviews to speak of how much they learned from Wooden are Phil Jackson, Bill Walton, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In an age when college basketball coaches are often in the public eye for their atrocious behavior, Wooden's thoughtful manner and gentle humor are all the more remarkable. Besides imparting lessons for ballplayers (and others), this is an insightful look at Wooden's remarkable personality. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

The Legend speaks!.......2006-03-04

Coach Wooden is the essence of a man who places values ahead of winning. Strange, he had a lot of winners didn't he?. Coach is from Indiana and so am I, I still kind of resent him beating my Dayton Flyers in the final game of the NCAA even if it was almost 40 years ago!

Outstanding!.......2004-11-26

Coach Wooden is an amazing man. In this one hour video, he generously shares his wisdom, personal philosophy, and principles for living a happy and successful life. And he has a unique ability to connect in a way that is interesting, friendly, motivating, and non-judgmental. After watching and listening to him, I now understand why he became one of the most successful coaches in sports history.

If you want to become a better person, this video of John Wooden has a lot to offer you. I highly recommend it.

Simply terrific!.......2001-05-16

I watched this video 5 times this week. John Wooden knows the secrets for living a great life and tells it all in this very personal reflection. Phil Jackson, Kareem, and Bill Walton add a lot of insight.

Johnny Nick

Simply terrific!.......2001-05-16

Johnny Nick

The Wisdom of Wooden.......2001-05-16

The wisdom of Wooden as told by the master himself! John Wooden's philosophy of how to achieve competitive greatness is more relevant today than ever. Great.

Amazon.com

Jonathan Demme has always had a thing for Haiti. With The Agronomist, the Oscar winning director of The Silence of the Lambs takes his Haitian passion for a serious and considerably more personal turn in a documentary profiling journalist and radio pioneer Jean Dominique. Demme first became intrigued by Dominique in 1991 when he undertook a series of informal video interviews. He returned to his subject many times over the next decade, sometimes in Haiti and sometimes during extended periods when Dominique was in the U.S., a political exile from his homeland. When Demme began his documentary, he certainly couldn't have planned for its end--the assassination of Dominique outside his Port au Prince radio station in 2000. As The Agronomist makes clear, it was a blatantly political crime and one that remains unsolved. The title refers to Dominique's original vocation helping farmers in the rural communities of Haiti. He came from the upper classes, but continued his battles in representing his country's poor and dispossessed even as his career path changed to professional broadcaster. As operator of the independent Radio Haiti Inter from 1960 until his death, Dominique became a hero to the masses and a frequent enemy of the government. In extensive interview segments, Dominique exudes the charismatic good humor and mischievous zeal that brought him fame and infamy from the various constituents of Haiti's notorious political landscape. An impish, animated figure with sparkling eyes and naughty grin, Dominique gleefully or angrily recounts confrontations with the authority of Haiti's Duvalier father-and-son dictators, and later the Aristide regime. The Agronomist is very much a homemade affair, but by no means amateurish. Using mostly raw camcorder video, Demme makes a stylish statement with his visuals and Dominique's words. He also gets plenty of help from a sensational soundtrack by another beloved Haitian hero, Wyclef Jean. The Agronomist is an apt history lesson about Haiti's legacy of political turmoil and a powerful testimonial about patriotism in the face of oppression. --Ted Fry

Description

The life of Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist, Jean Dominique, told through historical footage of Haiti; interviews with Dominique and his wife, Michele Montas; and footage shot before his assassination in April 2000.

Customer Reviews:

powerful and compelling.............2007-05-25

Though, I know of filmmaker Jonathan Demme (known best for THE CRYING GAME, among other films), I have never seen any of the films from his extensive body of work. What's more, I knew even less of Haiti. It was time that I receive an education, I felt, and what better way to do this than through viewing an intense and engrossing film like THE AGRONOMIST, one of the most beautifully crafted documentaries I have seen in a very long time.

The film's title is in reference to Hatian radio journalist Jean Dominique (1930-2000), a great, charismatic and controversial part of Haitian mass media and history for the forty years he was on the air, with RADIO HAITI, his radio station, founded in 1960. For those of you unfamiliar with agronomy, it is a type of agricultural science. Receiving an education as an agronomist as a young man, from a very affluent mulatto family in Haiti, Dominique applied his acquired knowledge of the science of sustainable cultivation to help poor Haitian peasants, with their cash crop. He also felt a calling to start up a film club, produce a Haitian documentary centered on voodoo, and eventually start his work as a very progressive journalist, challenging the corrupt politics of his very violent and turbulent government. Eventually, Dominique was driven into exile, in New York, with his wife.

Jonathan Demme began recording informal interviews with Dominique in 1986, juxtaposing his footage with newsreels documenting political violence in Haiti, as well as interviews with Dominique's wife, other family members and colleagues, leading up to his assasination in April of 2000. His footage is compelling, profound and even (at times) humorous. The very charismatic Jean Dominique was insightful, with a wit that cut like a knife, and interjected his pointed observations with bursts of humor and poetry. What's more, the original musical soundtrack is fabulous. Wyclef Jean and Jerry "Wonder" Duplessis bring great songs to this documentary piece, that add such color and flavor to the story. THE AGRONOMIST is great and I am truly surprised that it didn't get more exposure! I definitely reccomend it.

Good Info........2007-04-10

n a word, this movie is "educational." It isn't the best documentary I've ever seen, but I do know quite a bit more about Haiti than I did before I saw it.

controversial.......2007-03-10

This film is an excellent documentary about Dominique and Haitian politics in general. It brings to life the Duvaliers' regime and the Aristide administration through the eyes of the most controversial journalist and his life at radio haiti.

A Moving and very Eye-Opening Film.......2007-02-26

I enjoyed watching this documentary because it really showed what could be... the elite of Haiti rising up and standing for the rights of ALL Haitians not standing for impunity in the justice system and governmental abuses. Jean Dominque dared to simply stand for HAITI...against corruption on all sides and he paid with his life like so many other Haitian activists. It is a shame to see so many rich and powerful ignoring the plight of the poor in their own country. This documentary shows the story of someone who dared to be different. His impact is living beyond his life thanks to this film and others who carry on his story.

I have been to Haiti twice and am planning my third trip. Your heart is so full to the breaking point when you visit - so many wonderful people full of life and looking for hope. Haiti is so often pushed to the sidelines but hopefully with films such as these more people will be inspired to help in the fight for justice for Haiti.

Political Passion + Remarkable Bravery.......2007-01-24

"The truth," recalls Jean Dominique (1930-2000) quoting Shakespeare, "will always make the devil's face blush." For forty years Dominique was Haiti's most eloquent and outspoken political and human rights activist. Whether it was Papa Doc Duvalier, his son Baby Doc, Raoul Cedras, Jean Bertrand Aristide, Preval, the provisional puppet governments supported by America and run by the military, or the hated Macoutes thug-militia, Dominique spoke unvarnished truth and justice to power. He gave voice to the poorest of the poor in general and peasants in particular. When he was assassinated April 3, 2000 at the age of 70, he requested that his wife and the peasants together pour his ashes into the river. By training Dominique was an agronomist, but he became a national hero by force of his unflinching bravery, charming eloquence, and political passion. Late in the documentary he describes himself as always having had "an unquenchable faith as a militant for true change." With his journalist wife Michele Montas, he owned and operated Haiti's oldest and only free radio station, Radio Haiti, despite repeated episodes of harassment, torture, jail, and over six years of exile in Manhattan. Broadcasts were in native Creole rather than colonial French, connecting Dominique viscerally to the millions of powerless peasants. In addition, he produced Haiti's first film in Haiti by a Haitian, sensing that when you watch closely, you understand how a film becomes a political act. In 1965, Papa Doc's authorities permanently closed Haiti's first film club that he had started. Written and directed by Academy Award winner Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs), who interviewed Dominique over a period of ten years, this documentary demonstrates how some times human history is driven from "the bottom up" rather than the "top down." In English and Creole (with English subtitles).

Average customer rating:

AWESOME!!!
Inside The Mastermind Of Björk
Inside and Out Bjork
missy elliot?
Quality equivalent to the price

Inside Bjork
Starring: Björk
Manufacturer: One Little Indian Us
ProductGroup: DVD
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Bjork - Inner Part of an Animal or Plant Structure (Snapper)
The Medúlla Videos
Live at Royal Opera House
Greatest Hits: Volumen 1993-2003
Bjork - Cambridge

ASIN: B00009RGC8
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Product Description

INSIDE BJORK (BJORK)

Customer Reviews:

AWESOME!!!.......2006-11-04

This is the most (only?) comprehensive video I've seen of Bjork where she actually comments on her music and life. Very interesting! Stories behind all the songs and videos. Her views on just about everything. A MUST HAVE for any Bjork fan! Besides, she's so damn hot! :)

Inside The Mastermind Of Björk.......2005-12-22

Of all the Bjork DVD's I own, I find "Inside Bjork" to be one of the most endearing. I love documentaries that go through all the facts and figures about a particular artists' career, and this one is no exception. My only complaint is that it is a little too short, but I suppose you get what you pay for and it's better than nothing! A lot of the work Bjork puts out is incredibly art-based, leading me to raise the question of whether something is a piece of art from her perspective (and the reaction she is intending to receive from her audience) or whether it is simply just a piece of work. For example, this DVD is quite expensive, and features no bonus material, and is less than an hour in length. Is this a statement? Who knows, but I think it's interesting to ponder over such a question.

The DVD begins with Introduction, which is a few minutes where we overlook Bjork's entire career very briefly through narration. Included are video and concert clips, along with comments from stars such as Elton John, Thom Yorke and Missy Elliott about how amazing she is. This takes us onto the Iceberg Lagoon section which features some beautiful imagery of Iceland where Bjork grew up. Again, this leads onto Reykjavik Childhood, a section which aims to detail Bjork's beautiful childhood, surrounded by the elementary forces of nature in Iceland. The Punk & Surrealism section takes us into her teen years where she became interested in punk music which eventually led to the formation of The Sugarcubes, who would actually go on to become an internationally successful punk band in the Eighties. There is particular focus on the song "Birthday," and just how unique it was, and still is. Song Stories And Sonic Experiments takes us into the era when Bjork had left the band, and was wanting t make it big on her own as a solo artist in the early Nineties.

From then on we are taken through Images, Beats and Nature, three sections that explore Bjork's music as a solo artist, her most famous work still to this day throughout the Nineties, when she became an internationally-famous superstar and sold millions of copies of her first three albums "Debut," "Post" and "Homogenic." These sections are probably the most interesting and enjoyable because it is the era of Bjork's career that we all became interested in to begin with: it is because of the music from these albums that we became such devoted fans, and therefore purchased this DVD! What's also stunning to realise is just how much pure artistic vision went into the creation of these albums, especially when you hear Bjork describing the story of "Isobel" around 20 minutes into the DVD. The information that we are given on Bjork's tours is also very interesting, but all the footage is available on the DVD's that you can buy, which are the full concert shows from her four tours for each of her first four solo studio albums.

Classical Influences is another great section which aims to explore the elements of classical music that have influenced Bjork throughout her career, most evident on the album Homogenic. I find this to be quite irritating, however, because classical music is a genius conception that Bjork incorporated, genius-like, into her music. It's almost impossible to decipher anything about the companion of classical music and the electronic beats in songs like "Joga" and "Bachelorette." The Musicals section explores her work in the 2000 film Dancer In The Dark, whereas the Microbeats section looks at her work on 2001's epic masterpiece "Vespertine," her fourth solo album. It's interesting to see how the music was created for this album with Matmos and Zeena Parkins. Also, the tour that accompanied the album was arguably her best and is explored here well. Arctic Passion is the last section of the DVD and looks at Bjork's position in the industry, along with a superb live performance of "Generous Palmstroke" with Zeena on harp.

This DVD is really essential in any Bjork fan's collection, even though it was shown on British television around four years ago. It might be a bit expensive, as are all Bjork's DVD's (she gotta get her income from somewhere, guys!), but I think it's really worth it. You get almost fifty minutes of interviews, pictures, video and concert clips, and never-before-seen images of Bjork as a child. I don't think it will take much for a true Bjork fan to buy this DVD, but if you're pondering whether or not to buy it, then trust me, this is something you don't want to miss!

Inside and Out Bjork.......2005-10-25

I usually skip all these biographical documentaries and hagiographies, but this one is very interesting. One of the reasons I got it was because it promised to discuss the influence of classical music on Bjork's music, but this DVD delivers a lot more than this.
Bjork is a very intelligent and serious interviewee, though she can be mercilessly funny too, and her comments help put many of her songs, albums and artistic decisions into focus. Yes, she discusses her troubled relationship with Western classical music, and how we need to make sure the children can be exposed to it in a good way, my feelings exactly. Being a classically trained but long drifted soul myself, I really liked hearing about how she found her way out and made peace with Shostakovich. She blows many of acclaimed composers out of the water in any case, but she is aware of her roots. Speaking of roots, if you want to hear her talk about many things Nordic, including mythology, and see some amazing Icelandic landscapes, then there's plenty of that on this DVD as well.
The whole thing was filmed roughly around the time Vespertine was released, and it will also give you a good overview of her career until that point and put certain decisions into perspective, but that's not to suggest that this video is just relentlessly dishing out the facts and (often fascinating) video footage, including rare early days, punky Bjork. It makes sense as a coherent whole and I found it to be very absorbing, also upon repeated viewings.
A whole army of Bjork's friends, supporters, collaborators and co-conspirators show up to offer their words of wisdom; my favourites are Missy Elliot, a funky genius herself, talking about Bjork and Mozart (pronounced Mozz-ahrt) and Elton John, fuming about the crtitical drabbing that fabulous swan dress took.
The final moment of this movie is Bjork, accompanying herself on a little church organ and singing Generous Palmstroke. Great finish to a wonderful trip Inside Bjork.

missy elliot?.......2005-07-14

I normally find it a bit lame and pointless to sit and watch documentaries on contemporary artist/musicians, since they're usually just people saying, "this person's so great because of this or that" or "he/she was so innovative and ahead of their time" ... just generally giving way too much credit to the person they're talking about. But, i decided to give this Bjork documentary a whirl since she truly is a wonderfully talented and unique artist and incase this dvd has any real insight into her working methods, i'd be interested in seeing that (being a musician myself).

Along with alot of information on her musical upbringing and the development of her vocal style, the film really provides alot of first-hand analyzation of her work and her general outlook on music and life. Naturally, Bjork's interview segments are always interesting (some of which are done from a floating raft among the glaciers of her home country).

My only beef with the dvd is the excess of lame interview segments with people that have nothing to do with her. I mean, Missy Elliot? C'mon. Thankfully her comments are kept short and seldom, as they are about as informed as one would expect them to be ("it's like, she took these hip hop beats and... added orchestra stuff on top, so it was like... Mozart at a rap show")
Oh brother...
That said, i should point out that most of the comments made arent just a waste of time and really do say something.

On the whole i say, for sure, pick it up.

Quality equivalent to the price.......2005-02-27

The interviews with Bjork and the beautiful shots of Iceland make this well worth the watch, but I didn't care for the excessive celebrity commentary this is padded with. I don't give a flip about the opinions of Elton John, Tricky, Sean Penn and others. Bjork doesn't need to fill a DVD about herself with shallow pop figures just to lend validity to her appeal.

Average customer rating:

heart-shaped potatoes
"A matter of ethics."
This filmed changed my perspective of today's gleaners
Artistically done
Somber, elegiac...

The Gleaners and I
Starring: Bodan Litnanski , and François Wertheimer
Manufacturer: Zeitgeist Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005Y727
Release Date: 2002-07-23

Description

Agnès Varda, Grande Dame of the French New Wave, has made 2001's most acclaimed non-fiction film-a self-described "wandering-road documentary." Beginning with the famous Jean-François Millet painting of women gathering wheat left over from a harvest, she focuses her ever-seeking eye on gleaners: those who scour already-reaped fields for the odd potato or turnip. Her investigation leads us from forgotten corners of the French countryside to off-hours at the green markets of Paris, following those who insist on finding a use for that which society has cast off, whether out of necessity or activism. Varda's own ruminations on her life as a filmmaker (a gleaner of sorts) give her a connection to her subjects that creates a touching human portrait that the L.A. Weekly deemed "a protest film that's part social critique, part travelogue, but always an unsentimental celebration of human resilience." This Edition features the 60-minute follow-up film GLEANERS: TWO YEARS LATER.

Customer Reviews:

heart-shaped potatoes.......2007-04-08

Director: Agnes Varda
Duration: 82 minutes

When I was young I would go with my grandparents to my uncle's farm to pick fresh vegetables. The main vegetable that I remember picking is okra. Armed with my pocket knife, I was informed by my grandmother to only gather the medium sized okra pods because they were the best ones to eat. I was a bit bothered by this because I felt that the other ones would go to waste. I am not sure what my uncle did with remaining vegetables, but I assume they were often left to rot in his fields without serving their purpose to feed the populace.

Varda's film The Gleaners and I is a documentary depicting her travels throughout the countryside of France in her pursuit to find individuals who live off of the items cast off by others. Gleaning used to be a normal activity of woman in the countryside who gathered the remaining grain in the fields after the harvest came to an end, but this practice almost ceased to be after heavy machinery came to gather the food. Now, gleaners are quite often the destitute who gather the leftovers of the harvest in order to add to their meager diets. However, there are also those who glean because the activity was passed down in their blood or it is something they enjoy doing.

Traveling from vineyards to potato fields, apple orchards to the urban sprawl, and the seaside to museums, Varda's documentary encompasses the waste that is common in capitalist societies and how many farmers, winemakers, store owners prefer the excess to rot, spoil, and be thrown away instead of being used to help the down and out. However, the mood of the film is not entirely dark, because Varda does a wonderful job of depicting the beauty of castoff items and how some individuals, the castoffs of society, make due in a society that would prefer them just to disappear.

"A matter of ethics.".......2006-06-03

French director Agnes Varda's meditative documentary "The Gleaners and I" , takes a look at the age-old practice of "gleaning." Historically, gleaners were gatherers who arrived in the fields following the harvest, and then gathered the produce left behind. As a practice with an historic and a legal past, gleaning still continues to this day, and Varda records different aspects of gleaning using a new handheld digital camera.

Wisely, Varda begins with the aspects of gleaning that leap out at the viewer, and she follows people who appear in the fields to gather the leftovers. Some people glean simply because they can't stand to let items go to waste, and other people glean out of necessity. Grassroots organizations devoted to feeding the poor scour the fields for useable food items. In one instance, Varda films gypsies living in a condemned group of caravans as they pick potatoes out of the field. Not only are potatoes left in the fields due to the inefficiency of modern harvesting equipment, but potatoes that are too large are rejected. In another instance, Varda interviews a family who are harvesting an unclaimed crop of grapes after discovering an abandoned vineyard.

From the obvious aspects of gleaning Varda moves on and documents gleaning in urban areas. One group of homeless young people are accused of vandalizing dustbins when they glean, and the supermarket manager responds by pouring bleach over the bins. Others are interviewed who sift through the remnants of the marketplace, and one man maintains that in an "overconsuming society" gleaning is a "matter of ethics."

But there are people who glean for other than food, and Varda films an artist who makes sorties on his bicycle to gather discarded plunder, and a hobbyist who creates fantastic totem towers of rubbish.

There is a sense of wonder here at human nature, and the apparent need some humans have to stop waste, or to create from waste. This is a thought provoking documentary full of subtle social commentary, and after watching various gleaners at work, one cannot help but extrapolate to larger commentaries about the society in which we live. The DVD also contains "Gleaners and I: Two Years Later." This film acts as a companion piece and includes follow up interviews with people who appeared in the first film and also a protest march against the practice of gleaning. In French with English subtitles--displacedhuman

This filmed changed my perspective of today's gleaners.......2006-03-19

I "gleaned" this French jewel from the shelves of our library DVD collection. And I'm glad I did.

This film is rich in texture, deep in multiple meanings, provides a variety of real characters, a visual feast of various regions of France and how the act of gleaning is as alive today as when the famous paintings were made centuries ago.

It has given me a new appreciation for the "scrounging" that I, and others I know, have done over the years. I think from now on I'll always refer to it as "gleaning."

People and situations will look different to me because I've seen this film. The gleaners are all around us. Now they are no longer invisible.

Artistically done.......2006-01-17

At one point in this unusual and very interesting documentary by French New Wave director Agnes Varda (born, 1928!) she ties it together by showing art made from "gleaned" articles--that is, trash thrown away and made into objects of art by artists.

Of course it is trite to recall that "one man's trash is another man's treasure," but it is so. How dearly archeologists love ancient midden sites, and how much we can learn about the ancients from their trash. But Varda is here to show us that we can also learn a lot about modern people from what they throw away, and from what is gleaned, and from the gleaners themselves. I thought the guy who ate (grazed almost) as he went through the market place after closing was interesting. Clearly going through the trash is something instinctive with humans: no doubt it comes from our prehistoric past when we were hunters and gatherers.

The main focus here is on gleaning fruits and vegetables left behind by mechanized pickers. It is interesting to note that there are laws going back hundreds of years that regulate gleaners. (Varda puts a French lawyer on camera to quote some relevant law.) I was fascinated to see that there are dumpster divers in France. In America dumpster diving has been a big deal since at least the sixties. Today there are Web sites devoted to dumpster diving, and I personally know some people who dumpster dive for fun and profit. It was also interesting to see just which fruits and vegetable are gleaned from the ground and from the trees and vines and plants left after the harvest, and to hear from the people who do the gleaning. Varda shows mounds of potatoes left behind, and we learn that both potatoes too small and potatoes too big are discarded by the producers. (In America, large potatoes are not only not discarded, they bring a higher price.) Interesting too were her interviews with French gypsies and others who derive a good part of their subsistence from gleaning.

I enjoyed seeing parts of France not normally seen on the screen or by tourists. In fact in some ways this documentary could serve as a kind of travelog so widely does Varda and her camera travel about the French countryside and cities.

See this for the Grande Dame of French cinema, Agnes Varda, auteur of the innovative documentary Cléo from 5 to 7 (1961) and other films who is now 77 years old and still going strong.

Somber, elegiac..........2005-06-07

Enjoyed this very much. Again, this is one of those films that won't work for you if you've only grown up on typical Hollywood fair. This has it's own tempo and visual language. It's best viewed with an open mind. Trust the filmaker and relax and enjoy/learn from this documentary. At times its touching, sad, enlightening. This isn't just about people surviving as scavengers. That's some of it, but it's also about people making art from left objects/trash, and some have philosophical views on the waste our society produces. Also, I really enjoyed the asides about the filmakers aging. There is an elegiac thread woven through this, a homage to aging which is both somber and clear-eyed. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Worth while
Generally well made movie, with dubious final message
building Character
One of the best films ever
Character: inherent, disposition, habitual behavior

Character
Starring: Jan Decleir , Fedja van Huêt , Betty Schuurman , Tamar van den Dop , and Victor Löw
Director: Mike van Diem
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007KK52
Release Date: 2003-02-04

Amazon.com

Character, the 1997 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, is an Oedipal struggle both primal and epic with a Dickensian sweep and a dark Kafka-esque center. The film starts with a heated argument between two men, and when the elder is found dead with a knife in his chest the younger man is arrested and revealed to be his son. The story begins in flashback: the father, Dreverhaven (Jan Decleir from Antonia's Line), is a fearless Scrooge-like moneylender who has cold-heartedly built his fortune by collecting debts and foreclosing on the poor. His son, Katadreuffe (Fedja van Huet), is the offspring of a single night's passion with his housekeeper--in an interesting twist he hounds her to marry him, and she leaves with the boy to raise him on her own. When she dies, father and son become locked in a fascinating battle: as Katadreuffe finds him calling in the law, Dreverhaven buys up his debts and attempts to drive him into bankruptcy. Katadreuffe eagerly takes up every challenge his father throws at him in a perverse show of strength and filial defiance. Adapted by first-time director Mike Van Diem from the 1938 novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk, this handsome epic is assured from the first frame, and excellent performances by Decleir (whose imposing Dreverhaven seems to tower over all by will as much as by size) and van Huet bring to life this study of two tortured psyches whose love emerges only through conflict and competition. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Worth while.......2007-04-05

For some reason the review I submitted right after seeing this DVD didn't make it onto the website so I'm writing another. Since it's not fresh in my mind I'll just add my "vote" to the others who recommend this.

To me, some stories are worth telling and some aren't. This is one that is! And it's brilliantly filmed and acted. Others' have recounted the story so I won't repeat it. But it's a tale of substance, worth your time and attention.

Generally well made movie, with dubious final message.......2006-12-15

A generally well made movie with a very dubious message: the best way to raise your children is to treat them like garbage. This movie is based on a 1920s book, and that message might seem resonant with the values of that era. But it's strange to listen to this kind of litany in a contemporary movie. To summarize the plot a bit, the film is about a young man, son of an unwed and stern woman, whose career is made almost impossible by his natural father, a thoroughly repellent individual, whose job seems to be to evict the poor from their homes when they can't pay their debts. The father tries every tactic to harass his son and to bring him into ruin and bankruptcy. What is most shocking is that the movie seems to imply that the father really loves his son, and all the wretched things he does to him are in order to build his character (hence the title) and become a successful person in society. Summing up, a well made movie with a message that seems a relic from a previous era.

building Character.......2005-11-27

An excellent movie, worthy of its Oscar. Be sure to check out "Twin Sisters" ("De tweeling") as well.

To the person complaining that the father-son conflict is a Hollywood cliche: this movie was based on a novel from the 1930s, thus far preceding "Spiderman" and "Star Wars". It has nothing to do with Hollywood at all.

One of the best films ever.......2005-08-27

I saw this film several years ago and it stays with me in such a powerful way. The story in compelling, the characters are interesting, the photography is marvelous. I just enjoyed the hell out of it.

Character: inherent, disposition, habitual behavior.......2005-03-04

This film is about " human character" it is not just love. To me "character" is who you are without threat of punishment or promise of reward. It is who you are when "nobody's looking".
When you watch this.. it is difficult to distinguish who the "good guys are" quite different from a traditional American film. The Dad looks a bad guy but in fact it is he ( as usual the father) that is fostering the " development of his offspring")
And the mother ( suffering and raising a child on her own) cannot and will not change her martyr behavior to marry the father of her son. She is destined to suffer... it is her " character".
The son is a product both genetically, environmentally ( his home life, the neighborhood, and the city and time frame) from which he lives. He reacts to events in a predictable way.
Reaction is " our character" whatever it is, good or bad, one will behave true to his " character". So therefore... the film could not end anyother way.
I think all should observe the process for which the director and the writer try to show us. There is no freewill. There is only character. Try to imagine it in this aspect, you give a poor man a million dollars and if it is not in his "character" to protect or develop his wealth... it won't be long till he is pitifully poor in just a short time.

Nothing can be done to change the unfolding of events. That is why one should determine another's character before trusting, marrying or developing any kind of realtionship with another person. Is it fate or the combination of a cast of characters that determine our destiny?

Angel Bear Yoga DVD (children's yoga video, kid's yoga activities,Christi Eley, Angle Bear Yoga series, yoga for kids, yoga instruction video, children's ... activities, yoga fun, character)

Average customer rating:

Angel Bear Yoga DVD (children's yoga video, kid's yoga activities,Christi Eley, Angle Bear Yoga series, yoga for kids, yoga instruction video, children's ... activities, yoga fun, character)
Starring: Christi Eley and friends
Director: Tom Purdy
Manufacturer: Angel Bear Yoga
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Little Stars: A Spiritual Workout for the Whole Child
Storytime Yoga: Teaching Yoga to Children Through Story (Storytime Yoga)
Indigo Ocean Dreams: 4 Children's Stories Designed to Decrease Stress, Anger and Anxiety while Increasing Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness (Indigo Dreams)
The Kids' Yoga Deck: 50 Poses and Games
Yoga Kids: For Ages 3-6

Product Features:

Unique yoga program featuring character development tied to nature.
60 minute DVD for children ages3-9
Interactive yoga stretches for the parent/child
Re-cap of poses, relaxing music
2 complete lessons from the Angel Bear Yoga program

ASIN: B000OBMN1Y
Release Date: 2007-02-15

Product Description

In this yoga production, parents and children will be introduced to Angel Bear and his little friend,Sweet Pea. Your instructor, Ms Christi, will show you symbolic poses representing courage and listening as you go on a magical journey! Learn to be brave and not fear the dark as you courageously practice "night animal" poses. Learn to use your special listening skills as you become a softly falling leaf. Join the fun with Angel Bear as you learn to see the positive character all around you in the natural world! This 60 minute video features 2 complete lesson plans(courage/listening) from the Angel Bear Yoga program and is perfect for home use, classroom use, etc. Poses are simple and no previous yoga experience necessary (take it slow and learn to improve over time). For ages 3-9 with parental supervision.

Biography - Dwight Eisenhower (A&E DVD Archives)

Average customer rating:

DDE- the greatest American militarist of all-time

Biography - Dwight Eisenhower (A&E DVD Archives)
Director: Bill Harris
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Biography - General Douglas MacArthur
American Experience: Truman
Biography - John F. Kennedy: A Personal Story (A&E DVD Archives)
Biography - Theodore Roosevelt: Roughrider to Rushmore (A&E DVD Archives)

ASIN: B0007WFUNI
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Customer Reviews:

DDE- the greatest American militarist of all-time.......2000-08-10

Eisenhower was perhaps the greatest military leader our country has ever had next to MacArthur. The 5-star General is a little lacklusterly portrayed in this- not enough violent scenes, but that's something that I'm into and really like, but history buffs would find it to be very informative.

Average customer rating:

A Big Disappointment
A PORTRAIT OF THE MASTER PIANIST IN MUSIC AND WORDS.

Artur Rubinstein
Starring: Jascha Heifetz , Gregor Piatigorsky , and Artur Rubinstein
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000A4T8O0
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Description

This historic film captures the legendary pianist Artur Rubinstein in rare performance film footage. The first portion of the program features Rubinstein playing: Spinning Song (Mendelssohn), Liebestraum (Liszt), C# Minor Waltz (Chopin), A Major Polonaise (Chopin),

The next segment of the program takes us into the home of Artur Rubinstein with the master performing: Prelude F# Minor (Chopin), Mazurka C# Minor (Chopin), Scherzo C# Minor (Chopin), Nocturne F# (Chopin), Polonaise A Flat (Chopin).

The concluding portion of the film is the result of LIFE Magazine's famous photographic story on the great soloists Rubinstein, Heifetz and Piatigorsky in rehearsal together. It is an intimate study of genius at work. The trio collaborate in:Trio in B Flat-1st Movement (Schubert) Trio in D Minor-1st, 2nd & 3rd Movement (Mendelssohn).

Customer Reviews:

A Big Disappointment.......2007-01-02

After reading the 5 Star review on this DVD I purchased it hoping that if it even came close to this recommendation I would be overjoyed. Anyone if even faintly familier with classical piano has heard of Rubinstein who is certainly considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Unfortunately he is not one of the great actors of the 20th century and this staged production done,I'm guessing for TV or the schoolroom,is truly pathetic. The film is dark and grainey and the fidelity is awful.

I know this was made in 1953 so what should I expect? Better than this.

There are some wonderful classical performances on DVD with supberb audio and video so maybe I'm spoiled. If your looking for a great recording of Rubinstein buy the Phillips Great Pianists of the 20th century 2 CD set. You won't be disappointed.

A PORTRAIT OF THE MASTER PIANIST IN MUSIC AND WORDS........2006-11-30

Five WONDERFUL Stars!! In this B/W DVD of virtuoso classical pianist Artur Rubinstein, we get a double serving: his AWESOME pianism and his spoken viewpoints on his music. We also get a look at the music room of his home where most of the action takes place. And he is very engaging as a person judging from his personal non-musical interactions with others: very opinionated and eager to discuss and display his music. The dialogue throughout appears scripted and well-acted, and his sincerity and politeness shines through. On to the music.

The music appears in three frameworks at his home: a mini-musical concert of excerpts playing Mendelssohn ("Spinning Song"), Liszt ("Liebestraum"), and Chopin ("C# Minor Waltz" & "Polonaise in A Major") for a new business acquaintance at home; a concert at home playing 5 Chopin excerpts for friends ("Prelude F# Minor", "Mazurka C# Minor", "Scherzo C# Minor", "Nocturne F#", and "Polonaise A Flat"), and a chamber trio practice session at home with violinist Jasha Heifetz and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky playing Shubert ("Trio in B Flat", 1st movement) and Mendelssohn ("Trio in D Minor", 1st, 2nd, and 3rd movements). Seeing the piano master at his best playing these pieces is wonderful. The trio practice has the air of refinement as they recapitulate certain parts again.

The Pieces De Resistance? Every music track on the disc, Rubinstein was that much of a perfectionist. The important thing about Rubinstein to me is that, beyond his total mastery of the keyboard and his exuberance for the music, I trust him with 'time', he totally solves this quality that eludes some performers sometimes and which is so vital to 'phrase execution'; in short, he puts me into 'total enjoyment' mode the first time thru, rather than having to go back thru a piece to unravel some performer's 'time' problem. Even the recapitulations are not improvements, but altered versions always within the correct time, such was the level of his (and the trio's) consistency. At the beginning of the disc in a recording studio, Rubinstein delivers 'Take 18' of a piece with which he is finally satisfied. The DVD sometimes gives closeups and overhead shots of his awesome fingerings and hand flourishes. This circa 1950's B/W film has the look of a period 'film noir' movie with some visible artifacts and the sound is probably early stereo, converted to digital Dolby 2.0. AWESOME musician. One of the world's GREATEST pianists, gone for decades now but captured here in his prime. Highly recommended. Five PERFECT PIANISTIC Stars!!

(*All regions, NTSC format, English, 4:3-Full Screen on my TV and with sidebars on my computer, Dolby 2.0 version of the original sound, B/W, 74 minutes.
*Rubinstein had a deep photographic memory and the story goes, he once memorized an unfamiliar piece without the aid of a piano, while in enroute on a train to a concert to play it. Confidence bordering on over confidence! Most of his huge repertoir was committed to memory and always performance-ready, because from what we see here in this DVD, Arthur Rubinstein LOVED to play music, anytime and anywhere.)

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