Pianomania (2009)

People are voting emotionally.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I'm a classically-trained pianist and composer, so behind-the-scenes movies like this have a lot of appeal for me. I respect the piano technicians, such as the film's protagonist Stephan Knüpfer, who know how to coax the right sound from an amazingly complicated instrument. This documentary is a tribute to his skill, and especially his patience, as he deals with pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, an ultra-demanding control freak who will just about drive you insane as you watch. Aimard's attempts to get Knüpfer to recreate the many piano tones he has in his head forms the main plot thread of this documentary. In between grueling sessions of watching Aimard complain about the shape of a particular note's tone, the documentarians have inserted scenic pictures of Vienna, and clips of other, less annoying pianists, including two comedians who provide much-needed relief for the Aimard-induced tension.There are some lovely shots of the interior mechanism of the piano, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at Vienna's concert hall. But overall, I found this film tedious due to Aimard's perfectionistic attitude. Would anyone else put up with it? Knüpfer seems to relish it somehow, because it presents him with a technical challenge. The film rambles on, cutting back and forth to the main story for no apparent reason, and be warned: 90% of it is in German with subtitles.Definitely for the piano lover only.

I've always enjoyed watching an artist at the top of the game, and while the musicians here, Lang Lang, Aimard et al are all at the top of their games for sure, it is Stephan Knüpfer who is the true artist here. Here is a man who knows his pianos at such an intimate level he is able to translate the musicians incredibly specific and intangible demands in to reality.This film is just captivating from beginning to end, watching Stephan tweak, poke, dust, tune, twist and thump the pianos like only a true master of his craft can do.Highly recommended.

A year in the life of Stephan Knüpfer, Steinway's tuner/piano mechanic who services the beautiful Steinway grand pianos in Vienna's concert halls.The preparation in bringing these magnificent pianos to perfect condition, each one fine-tuned to satisfy the differing whims of the virtuoso who will play it, is astounding to see and hear. It's astonishing that people can have such delicate ears, to be able to hear such tiny changes in tone and colour when minuscule adjustments are made to tuning, hammers and strings.If you're a music lover you must see this film.

I watched this documentary exactly one week ago at the NZ IFF in Auckland. It's been on my mind ever since! It's a slow paced documentary about a piano tuner working in Vienna with some (very famous?) pianists playing Bach, Mozard, Berlioz etc. One of them is a very perfectionist pianist, but funny at the same time.As said it is slow paced, but has many funny moments. I never knew tuning a (grand) piano was so complicated, but after watching this docu I really admire his skill, not only technical but his people skill as well.I recommend seeing this documentary, the theatre was almost sold out when I watched it and everyone there really seemed to enjoy it.It is mostly in German, but is partly in English as well.