From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China (1981)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Murray Lerner

Release Date:

10 December 1981 (Australia)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

Isaac Stern's cultural tour of China is seen, with the master violinist performing and mentoring young Chinese musicians...

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Chinese | Cultural Revolution | China | Culture

Awards:

Won Oscar.

Cast

Isaac Stern	...	Himself
David Golub	...	Himself - Pianist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ching-Ling Soong	...	Herself (as Madame Sun Yat-Sen)
Leonard Woodcock	...	Himself

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Movie Connections:

References The Circus (1928)

excellent, sensitive coverage of the effect of the cultural revolution on musicians in China

This is one of the most moving films I have ever seen. The 'language of music' gets a lot of mileage in general, but here you see it as the common voice of people who have no other mutual language. It is a film of great sensitivity and honesty, showing the depths of tragedy people experienced under the Cultural Revolution in China, as well as an engaging whirlwind tour into the rich world of traditional and modern (well, 1980s) China. Stern's master classes with young Chinese students are delightful - humorous, enlightening and beautifully human. Well worth seeing or owning.