Intrigue

The restoration of a Steinway becomes a lyrical meditation on following the heart's true passion in this beautifully crafted documentary. A wonderful Bay Area tale, the film traces the path of a 1927 grand piano owned by a music teacher who bequeathed her treasure to her alma mater, UC Berkeley, with the stipulation that the university ultimately reward it to "a worthy student of piano." Before it can be given away, however, it must be restored, and here the essence of the story unfolds, as Korty follows the piano's rebirth under the masterful care of Oakland's venerable Callahan Piano Service.—Deanna Quinones

Who knew that the individuals working in this piano shop at the former Alameda Naval Air Station, were such an interesting and eclectic crew? And who knew how exacting was the work of rebuilding the insides of a classy old piano into one with modern scientific secrets? This sparkling, beautifully edited documentary spells out just how intricately fascinating a small workshop can be, when the owner sncourages the "artisan" in each worker, and every worker has his or her own effect on the personality of every newly rebuilt piano.

With a wonderful soundtrack from the first Berkeley Piano Competition, and narration by John Lithgow, a donated piano goes through a serious makeover, gets a new life and a new owner.