| Speaking in Strings | 
| Director: Paola Di Florio
Actor: Nadja Salerno-sonnenberg
Studio: New Video Group
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $12.84
You Save: $12.11 (49%)
Buy New/Used from $8.99
Avg. Customer Rating:   (20 reviews)
Sales Rank: 22930
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 75 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 0767034856
UPC: 767685947937
EAN: 9780767034852
ASIN: B00005J75T
Release Date: June 26, 2001
Theatrical Release Date: 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Customer Reviews:
 "The only time I feel good is when I play." April 1, 2006
6 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is a very interesting film as its subject, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, possesses a unique, and Van Goghian, combination of talent and emotional disturbance. So often unfortunately, people mistake depression and over-emotionality as being valuable and indicative of deep vision, when they are in fact just a tragic malady. We now know from experiments on the brain conducted over the course of the last decade just how much depression harms mental functioning. Sonnenberg does not strike the viewer as being a particularly perceptive person. This is painfully on display when she tries to explain what her artwork means-she doesn't appear to know, so she makes it up as she goes along.
Some critics described her work as "hormonal" and "distortive," and it's hard not to agree in the scenes of her frenetically shaking about on the stage. It seems that her personality overpowers the music, but such a personality makes for excellent character study which is why this is a useful documentary. Occasionally, her maudlin self wanders into offensiveness such as when she states, "classical music is a joke." Well, is it? Not to those of us who spent money to see the film. Her emotional fragility is something that she projects upon the rest of us. When she cuts off her finger tip, one has to wonder why somebody isn't on camera pointing out that the act may have been unconsciously motivated because it could have ended a career of which she is very ambivalent. She also tries to kill herself due to what her friends' term, "existential depression," but this is poppycock. She is biologically depressed, not situationally depressed. She self-medicates with poisonous cigarette after cigarette instead of just seeing a doctor and getting a script. Hopefully, she is taking something at present.
Most movies now contain some sort of mandatory anti-male sentiment and this one does not disappoint. One of Sonnenberg's friends comments that the music business is run by a "clique of men" to explain why the violinist, who is far more successful and rich than most of us could ever hope to be, has had so many difficulties. Speaking of men, we are the subject of a hilarious Freudian slip. Sonnenberg announces, at one point, "You want something really bad and then you can't have him." Ah, yes, well, at least there are cats. Anyway, in all seriousness, this is a fairly valuable character study and worthy of recommendation.
Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg Unplugged October 4, 2005
Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg lays bare the flip side of natural, unchecked, great, and overwhelmingly emotive talent: the isolation and, likely, the profound inability to find others - even those who rank among the greats - who feel, understand, and find in music her version of the ineffable. As a listener, it's wonderful and even enthralling to be caught in the throes of Sonnenberg's interpretations. I find the way in which she learns material (visit her website) as well as her immense talent, passion, and fingerwork riveting. I also find her fascinating on a biological nature-versus-nurture level (i.e., how do we define greatness? giftedness? technical skill?).
The way she portrays herself and is portrayed in this DVD, and it's important to remember that this was an edited piece that captures but a sliver of time in her life, suggests that it can be difficult to focus on the nuances of the composer's work itself when she plays. And I confess that as I age I've come to appreciate far more those virtuosos --Helene Grimaud comes to mind -- who can scale their mountains, maintain their quirks, yet somehow sidestep repeat crash and burnings. But come on, listen, for example, to the Sonnenberg Double Violin Concerto recording with Mark O'Connor and the Colorado Symphony under Marin Alsop and tell me whether it matters if her eyes roll to the back of her head as she plays.
At the same time, I can't help but wonder why someone couldn't penetrate Nadja's bravado to soften her emotional musical peaks and valleys. The question I ponder is whether it might be best, in some instances, to "suppress" the talent in exchange for a more peaceful, even life and what the ramifications of so doing would be. [Now, that didn't work for Jacqueline DuPre, but that's a whole other story.] To me, this means finding satisfaction in just the simple knowing that one posseses a visceral ability to bring to the fore depth of emotion in others, yet not allowing it to throw you off-kilter. Or perhaps it is the case that because she has the ability to feel, communicate, and connect with such power, that to take away the expressive outlet would make the ache, life itself, altogether unbearable. The film is raw; her honesty both palpable and inspiring.
Found it lacking March 31, 2004
14 out of 19 found this review helpful
This documentary seems to be more about Nadja the person than about Nadja the artist. Maybe the two are inseperable, but I was left wondering what a sick cat, alligator hunting, or a hot air balloon ride has to do with playing the violin. We're deluged with stories of her near self amputation of her left hand pinky, her father's abandonment, her chain smoking, her stalker, her suicide attempt, her mysterious failed "romance" (not too hard to read between the lines here), and her tomboy childhood in New York, but left wanting for more information on her musical background. It seems that this is more about a tormented soul who plays the violin than about a violinist who has personal demons to combat. A more fitting title might have been Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg - A Study in Manic Depression.
The quality of the video is less than professional. Much of it looks as though it was shot with a camcorder back in the 80s. The audio quality isn't much better, and the audio mix is horrible. I had to turn the volume up to a ridiculous level to hear. The only extras you get on the DVD are a short bio on NSS, a list of credits, and promos for other videos. The producers missed a great chance here to offer the viewer a quality performance video with no commentary.
Having said all of that, I still give the documentary 4 stars because of the superb playing that is presented. Several excerpts of Sonnenberg playing Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Paganini, Shostakovich, Bach, and Mendellsohn are included, both in performance and rehearsal. There are also plenty of clips of her interacting with chamber music members, which is rare for an artist of her magnitude. You can't deny her enormous talent, even if her presentation makes you uncomfortable.
 Breathtaking!!! August 27, 2003
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
After catching part of this documentary on HBO, I had to go out and bought it.
Not only is Nadja one (if not the most) talented violinist I have ever heard but the documentary drove me so close to her that you I felt enchanted by her music. She is an amazing musician and even more extraordinary woman.
The documentary allows you to experience all the pain, stress and glory of being a classical musician. Nadja, you are Breathtaking!
Talented and Troubled May 25, 2003
24 out of 30 found this review helpful
I watched this movie with a sense of awe I have not felt for any other musician. Not only does Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg have a great sense of humor, she if overflowing with creativity and pure sassiness. Beneath her animated surface there also seems to be a hurricane of emotions which finds its release in her dynamic musical career.
It is as if Nadja becomes the music she is playing or is it just that the music possesses her? She is intense in her original interpretation and hauntingly expressive style. The music does not seem to be coming from the violin, but from deep within Nadja.
You have to ask yourself why anyone so talented and filled with sensitivity would consider ending their life. Especially when you are one of the world's preeminent violinists.
I believe personally that very creative people can also be struggling from a deep depression or unfulfilled longing of the soul. While Nadja sought obvious release through her playing, I think writers find the same expression through words. Both can alternate between utter hopelessness and extreme creativity. At times writing and music almost seem to be "born of pain."
What is so powerful about her story is how her mother tells her it takes courage to be happy. How true! It is far easier to give up in light of your circumstances. It takes a deep inner strength and sense of hope to continue in life when you would rather give up. Yet what a talent she has. While her talents were unquestionable at the time, her talent for living still needed to be developed. She had a passion for music, but no passion for life.
Not only do we learn how Nadja's father abandoned her family when she was a very young child, we also learn about her regret of never meeting her father. It seems from what she says in this documentary, work was first in her life and she put health and love second and third. She might be interested to know that smokers have a higher risk of developing depression. In the movie, she seemed to be a chain smoker.
"Cries of the Heart" by Ravi Zacharias might be helpful for anyone going through what Nadja seems to have experienced. "Manic Depression and Creativity" by D. Jablow Hershman discusses Beethoven and other great talents through the ages. The Omega-3 Connection by Andrew L. Stoll would also be worth a read as nutrition is always important.
Where does the love come from when you can't supply it yourself? What makes life worth living when even your own amazing talent isn't satisfying the longings of the soul?
Nadja says she believes in God, but at times he seems really busy. There is definitely a difference between knowing there is a God and having a relationship with him. Or at least a reason for living that goes beyond this temporary existence.
This musician's life shows how material success and fame means little when maybe what we all really want is love and a happy healthy life. Not to mention hope in this life and hope for the life beyond.
I truly hope Nadja has found peace and ways to deal with the sheer explosion of creativity surging from her very soul.
An eccentric, wild and unorthodox story of a musician's passionate existence.
~The Rebecca Review
|
|
|
