To my shame, I’d never even heard of this film. Shame because these are among of my classical musician wife’s favorite composers, I can’t believe I was holding out on her! We watched it this weekend and absolutely loved it, thank you so much. It took 4 hours to watch because she kept stopping it to tell me stories about the composers and the pieces (most of which she’d played, some of her all time fav pieces are by Brahms), it was like one of those directors commentary DVD specials. One of her biggest pet peeves in music movies is the obviously fake playing by the actors - she was blown away by Hepburn’s piano skills, truly impressive! Thank you for sharing this wonderful gem.
I too was never a Katherine Hepburn fan, but her piano playing is exceptional, and describing it this way is an understatement. I was truly amazed.
Thank you for the great recommendation. This movie is filled with beautiful music, beautifully performed, and tells a story of love and constancy that (unless a person is one cold fish), warms the heart.
Katherine Hepburn's later films in particular leave us rather cold .. but here she shows her abilities to a high degree, and I was amazed that she played her piano pieces. Exceptional. For someone who had eschewed marriage and family herself, she played Clara Schumann as a wife and mother to perfection. Our daughter actually introduced us to the music of Schumann, so that we took real notice of him. And this story is utterly human and inspiring, really.
Im so looking forward to this different kind of love story. Our age is confused about many things, especially love and passion. Who has warned that historically, any culture in which none of the carnal passions is sublimated will lose its intellectual and artistic generativity, and finally collapse? All in pursuit of “fulfillment.” But as Christians, we learn [Christ’s] love which requires sacrifice in this life while ultimate fulfillment is on offer in the life to come. Then, in a line from a friend of mine who is quite a writer, we will see, finally, in the face of Jesus, “all the love that has ever loved us.”
Thelma, I hope you will love this film. This story is simple in many ways, extraordinary in many ways, but never simplistic, and Clara's love for her husband and devotion to his music is in no way presented as a great sacrifice on her part, but an act of deep love, as it was meant to be.
Not everything old is good, any more than everything new is bad: which is why I so much appreciate the Esolens' knack of separating the treasures from the dreck. Fascinating!
Well, that comment made my day! There sure is a LOT of dreck out there. And I think you will notice that we try to avoid it in the old as well as the new. Life is too short to spend in the weed patch when there is a huge flower garden to explore!
I have never heard of this film! That’s why I like Word &Song. I’ve got to watch this if for no other reason than to see Katharine Hepburn play the piano. Was she actually a pianist in her own right?
To my shame, I’d never even heard of this film. Shame because these are among of my classical musician wife’s favorite composers, I can’t believe I was holding out on her! We watched it this weekend and absolutely loved it, thank you so much. It took 4 hours to watch because she kept stopping it to tell me stories about the composers and the pieces (most of which she’d played, some of her all time fav pieces are by Brahms), it was like one of those directors commentary DVD specials. One of her biggest pet peeves in music movies is the obviously fake playing by the actors - she was blown away by Hepburn’s piano skills, truly impressive! Thank you for sharing this wonderful gem.
I too had not heard of this movie but watched it this evening.
Absolutely stunning by any possible measure.
Confession: Several times I stood up in anticipation of what was unfolding.
Especially at the moment when she ponders her reply to Brahms.
Whew.
A story for the ages.
I just marvel at the ability of an actress such as Hepburn to summon every possible emotion - on cue.
I too was never a Katherine Hepburn fan, but her piano playing is exceptional, and describing it this way is an understatement. I was truly amazed.
Thank you for the great recommendation. This movie is filled with beautiful music, beautifully performed, and tells a story of love and constancy that (unless a person is one cold fish), warms the heart.
Katherine Hepburn's later films in particular leave us rather cold .. but here she shows her abilities to a high degree, and I was amazed that she played her piano pieces. Exceptional. For someone who had eschewed marriage and family herself, she played Clara Schumann as a wife and mother to perfection. Our daughter actually introduced us to the music of Schumann, so that we took real notice of him. And this story is utterly human and inspiring, really.
Im so looking forward to this different kind of love story. Our age is confused about many things, especially love and passion. Who has warned that historically, any culture in which none of the carnal passions is sublimated will lose its intellectual and artistic generativity, and finally collapse? All in pursuit of “fulfillment.” But as Christians, we learn [Christ’s] love which requires sacrifice in this life while ultimate fulfillment is on offer in the life to come. Then, in a line from a friend of mine who is quite a writer, we will see, finally, in the face of Jesus, “all the love that has ever loved us.”
Thelma, I hope you will love this film. This story is simple in many ways, extraordinary in many ways, but never simplistic, and Clara's love for her husband and devotion to his music is in no way presented as a great sacrifice on her part, but an act of deep love, as it was meant to be.
Not everything old is good, any more than everything new is bad: which is why I so much appreciate the Esolens' knack of separating the treasures from the dreck. Fascinating!
Well, that comment made my day! There sure is a LOT of dreck out there. And I think you will notice that we try to avoid it in the old as well as the new. Life is too short to spend in the weed patch when there is a huge flower garden to explore!
Excellent paraphrase of that scripture passage about Whatever is good... Think on these things.
Glory to God!
I have never heard of this film! That’s why I like Word &Song. I’ve got to watch this if for no other reason than to see Katharine Hepburn play the piano. Was she actually a pianist in her own right?
Evidently, Amy, she was a gifted pianist and a hard worker at it, as well. But I think you will find her portrayal of Clara Schumann very compelling.