Dokumentarfilm (52 Min)
Produktion: BFMI
Derzeit in Postproduktion
Leistung: Regie, Kamera & Schnitt
This documentary, set in Kaunas Lithuania, uncovers the poignant stories of Mieczyslaw Weinberg and Erich Wolfgang Korngold: two 20th-century composers of profound artistry, whose legacy is only recently being rediscovered after having been overshadowed in the aftermath of the Holocaust.
The documentary follows the album recording of Constantine Orbelian, chief conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, and cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper. In recording lesser-known cello concertos by Weinberg and Korngold, Cooper and Orbelian hope to facilitate the transcendence of the two composers’ legacy — out of the shadows and towards the recognition their music deserves.
Narrated by Cooper and Orbelian, we delve further into the history of Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s
and Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s contrasting yet intertwining lives. Born into different worlds
but bound by their Jewish heritage and extraordinary musical talents, both composers were
forced to flee the horrors of the Holocaust during World War II: Weinberg finding refuge in the
far eastern part of the U.S.S.R. before resettling to Moscow, while Korngold came to the USA
and established himself as a well-known film score composer in Hollywood.
The composers’ life-stories are paralleled by visuals of Kaunas’ own historic landmarks,
commemorating the history of the city’s estimated 37.000 Jewish inhabitants before the
Shoah. Always returning to the recording sessions of the beautiful cello concertos, viewers
are drawn into a compelling story of cultural identity and rediscovery. The documentary
reminds us how artistic resilience and integrity are values worth fighting for today as much as
ever: Because in trying times like today’s, instead of canceling dialogue and turning away
from another, we are wise to learn from the past, encourage empathy and foster
understanding.
