Seymour: An Introduction (no, not the Salinger short story of the same name, but a 2014 film directed by Ethan Hawke) is an extraordinary documentary that will charm and fascinate anyone who has either played or tried to play an instrument or just loves music – or excellence in any craft!
Seymour Bernstein is a piano teacher and composer, 88 when the movie was made, who lives on the upper west side of Manhattan (and summers in Maine). He is a gifted player who debuted with the Chicago Symphony and then played worldwide – until 1980 when he stopped playing publicly and turned his full energies to teaching. He claimed to never be comfortable playing publicly, while he palpably and obviously is a remarkable teacher.
He met Hawke – an actor who also claims to suffer severe stage fright whenever he goes on – seated next to him at a dinner party, and after their conversation (which Hawke claims was remarkably insightful and helpful), Hawke asked him if he could make a documentary about him, and thus the film. (Hawke stays off camera for almost all of the movie). We learn a little of a lot about Bernstein in the movie: his childhood; the hurt when his father said he had “two daughters and a pianist;” his organizing a trio while serving in Korea that played for other soldiers on the front line; his one room apartment; his interactions with students; his teaching of master classes; his friends with whom he discusses art; his belief in the need to both have the gift and to work ferociously at one’s craft; his dislike of Glenn Gould (“when Gould plays, I don’t hear Bach, just Gould”). But mainly we develop a deep feeling for his insights, patience, and absolute commitment. There’s a remarkable scene in the basement of the Steinway shop in midtown Manhattan when he’s trying out pianos with responses like “horrendous,” “OK,” and eventually “wonderful, this is the one I’ll use.”
Hawke has talked him into playing a private concert for perhaps 50 people (Hawke’s acting group plus many of the students and colleagues we’ve met during the movie) in the rotunda of the Steinway building, looking out at a Manhattan street. An “extra” on the DVD is the full 45 minute or so concert.
(A note on the title – though Bernstein had a brother who committed suicide, I could see little relevance in the title, other than Bernstein’s name is Seymour, and the film is an introduction to him!)
This is absolutely a film not be missed, it brings enjoyment, appreciation, and a certain peace.