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Trip to Asia - Die Suche nach dem Einklang (2008)

initiated by martin on September 06, 2008 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497990/)

Screened in the UK as part of the BBC's 'Imagine...' arts series.Thomas Grube's documentary is fairly straightforward, following the members of arguably the world's greatest orchestra on a tour of the Far East. What what might otherwise have become a drifting hagiograph is focused in frank conversation with orchestral members. A narrative Sturm und Drang emerges as some of those turn out to be prospective new members on their lengthy probabtion (we learn of their fate in the closing credits).The most effective construction decision though is to intercut the usual woolly words about ensemble with scenes from the busy Eastern cities in which the orchestra finds itself. The civil, political and cultural parallels of trying to get the best from a group of individuals are manifold and subtle.Grube takes care to allow musical extracts just enough room to breathe and support claims of the orchestra's prowess without supplanting the real interest of the film. Informative, inspiring, highly but deftly detailed: very, very good indeed. 9/10

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