This is a documentary about Evelyn Glennie a famous figure in the music industry in Britain. This is her story and it focuses around her relationship with movie. Evelyn has lived a life of music and is currently a percussionist. What is remarkable about Evelyn is the fact that she is almost 80% deaf. This movie is however not about Evelyn the remarkable deaf musician rather it focuses on Evelyn the artist and the musician.
I found the different types of instruments and the way the they are employed in this movie very interesting. Anything and everything from a roll of paper thrown through the air can be used as an instrument. Evelyn who narrates the documentary, says she likes to keep herself open to any sort of sound that comes to her and this is evident in the numerous 'jamming' session they have throughout the documentary. I like how this documentary is presented. They do not focus in her handicap and if not because of the fact that it's mentioned during the course of the documentary I would not even have guessed that Evelyn is special.
During her school days (around 8) Evelyn was told that she is going deaf and that a career in music was not in the cards for her. She said that is not something she could accept as 30 mins earlier she could play anything and now a new fate has just been dealt to her. Her fortitude of Evelyn and her family in dealing with this heart breaking news is amicable. I wished that I had the inner strength these people had as this was not even treated as an issue to them, infact all throughout, Evelyn actually just says that her way of inputting music is just different and she is in now way less of a musician. Based on the fact that she is recognized as one of the leaders in a field goes to show she speaks for a position of experience.
The music in this documentary is infectious and sparse as they were got my feet tapping a few times while watching this. The music is haunting, tapping, unique and good all wrapped in one. The narrative style in this documentary works and is both personal and introduces us to the world that Evelyn lives and thrives in everyday.
The director, Thomas Riedelsheimer also directed another documentary called 'Rivers and Tides'. Will check that out soon.
Good watch, thanks cinebanter. 8/10
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