[3 stars]
I never expected that, after seeing The Conductor, that my movie paths would cross again with Marin Alsop. But she is one of the judges in this documentary about the only all-female conductor competition, La Maestra. Knowing her story adds a lot to this docu. First-time director Maggie Contreras follows several up-and-coming woman conductors as they vie for the top title and a chance…
New Post has been published on https://literaryends.com/hgblog/maestra/
Maestra
[3 stars]
I never expected that, after seeing The Conductor, that my movie paths would cross again with Marin Alsop. But she is one of the judges in this documentary about the only all-female conductor competition, La Maestra. Knowing her story adds a lot to this docu. First-time director Maggie Contreras follows several up-and-coming woman conductors as they vie for the top title and a chance to change their careers and lives irrevocably.
For all the emotion and nicely suspenseful structure of the competition that Contreras gets into the movie, however, she doesn’t quite help us understand why those who won, do. To some degree, I think that was a choice. The results of these competitions are always highly subjective, as we learn from some of the few snippets of feedback we do get to hear. But it shifts the ground on you a little as you watch. So understand that you probably won’t understand the results, but that isn’t the point. The focus is the emotion and the journey, and impact of the competition and the relationships of these women. The story also provides a small peek inside the workings of the music world that you rarely see or hear about.
And if you haven’t seen The Conductor yet, dig it out as well. The two make an interesting and intriguing pairing. Then, if you want to add some fiction on top, seek out Maestro and/or Tár. Neither is perfect as a movie, but with these documentaries as background they make resonant companion pieces.
New Post has been published on http://literaryends.com/hgblog/the-story-of-plastic/
The Story of Plastic
[3 stars]
I have to admit, as versed as I am in much of the environmental movement, I learned some things from this docu. None of them will help me sleep better at night either.
Activist director Deia Schlosberg is passionate about her subject and cause. By taking us into the root business drivers for the plastic industry, she provides both context and a disheartening sense of reality. All the things we thought we knew, all the things we thought we are doing and could do, are wrong and lies.
It would be easy to come to the end of this nearly two hours despondent and without direction, but that isn’t Schlosberg’s intent. The experience ends on a call to action and links and organizations to get involved with or donate to. While I could certainly argue the movie is a bit longer than it needs to be, often repeating itself or lingering on shots, it certainly enlightened me on aspects of politics and misrepresentations that had evaded me (and I’m a cynic to start with).
It may not be the best documentary you’ll see, but its information and message are both critical and essential and it may even shift your view and choices. I know I can’t even look at my garbage and buying habits the same way anymore.
[3 stars]
I have to admit, as versed as I am in much of the environmental movement, I learned some things from this docu. None of them will help me sleep better at night either.
Activist director Deia Schlosberg is passionate about her subject and cause. By taking us into the root business drivers for the plastic industry, she provides both context and a disheartening sense of reality. All the…
Article by at 2011-10-03 22:21:36
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