FIVE DAYS IN SEPTEMBER

I am not a great movie buff, give me books and magazines any day, so I guess we usually see about 10 or 12 movies a year. These are often foreign or low budget movies that have been at film festivals and then gone out on general release.

Recently I have noticed an increasing number of documentary movies on general release and I guess this is an outcome of the advent of documentary movies having their own festivals?

Last evening we saw FIVE DAYS IN SEPTEMBER in the mini theatre at the wonderful Academy Cinema tucked underneath the Public Library in Auckland city. This is one of my favourite movie houses, largely because of the interesting mix of movies they show but also because there is a motorcycle parking area right outside which means I can arrive on the Vespa just minutes before the movie is due to commence and have no parking problems.

FIVE DAYS IN SEPTEMBER is a documentary that records five days in the rebirth of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under what proves to be an inspired choice of a new leader, Peter Oundjian. The movie provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look into the running of a major symphony orchestra with all the pressures and problems, frustrations and rewards, and the sheer excitement of an orchestra in the process of successful re-establishment.

Glorioius music with stunning guest performances by diva Renee Fleming, international start cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and leading Canadian pianist Emanuel Ax.
Music by Chopin, Mahler, Dvorak, Verdi make for a fabulous sound-track.

After an hour and 20 minutes we came away exhilarated and happy after a wonderful movie and musical treat. We headed home to hunt out our CD of the Dvorak cello concerto. And next week I’ll be at Marbecks to see if there is a sound track of the movie availab