Johann Sebastian Bach

This is a Baroque period film, and in terms of its sheer detail, it's the best production of a period-film I ever seen. Over a decade ago, I purchased Yo-Yo Ma's Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites, listened to it a few times, then moved on (essentially, buried it somewhere). A few months ago, I decided to unearth the double CD and give it another try. It was the "2nd experience" that led me to this film as well anything else Bach had penned in his life time. As one reviewer has already stated, this film is for those who love Bach's music. It is both historically fascinating and a glimpse at some of the experiences that molded Bach's creative mind. With no means of recording, hence no way of selling music, a gifted musician not born into wealth, had to seek means of living through benefactors. This film chronicles the tumultuous relationship between a perfectionist and his often stifling benefactors, as well as the beautiful relationship he had with the women in his life. Toward the end of the series, the piece "Agnus Dei" (Mass in B minor) perfectly placed, caused tears to well-up my eyes, not just for the sentiments the scene elicits, but for the beauty of the floating melody. I didn't rate this series a 10 for two reasons: editing errors, with a discerning eye, a parked car can be seen on set in one scene; the other reason: performances by some of the secondary characters were lacking.

What transpires from that movie is an uneasy truth about life in early eighteen century in general and particularly Bach's. Very realistically shows life full of struggle, tragedy, and inconveniences hard to imagine today. The movie is filled with heavy, depressing atmosphere. Reflects very well stuffiness of tight quarters where most action takes place, daily grinding of trivial problems and conflicts, and heavy blows of which Bach was not spared during his difficult life. And in these circumstances Bach emanates in some miraculous way his heavenly music. Movie is well shot and well acted, although not quite for a Hollywood style picture lover.

This four-part mini-series details the adult life of the composer Bach. Bach is shown here as a human being - not as some demigod - who actually even removes his wig every now and then to drive home the fact that he's a flesh and blood mortal like you and me. The series traces the stations of his career and concentrates not only on the music but on his family life as well. It also provides a unique insight into the early half of the eighteenth century, bringing things to light that we as post-industrial Bach admirers never really consider when we contemplate the genius of this great musician. For example, we see his deep genuflections when confronted with royalty, the tribulations of riding in a coach or, especially chilling, his eye operation being performed without an anaesthetic while the doctor's assistants holds him in a chair near an open window. The series builds on several anecdotes giving it flow and interest. The camera work is at times brilliant - unique camera angles, movement and unusual positioning round this series out. In summary, we see Bach the man confronted with the turmoils of everyday life in his age, and leave appreciating his genius all the much more.