Product Description

In July 2005, Scott Hicks started shooting a documentary about the composer Philip Glass to celebrate his 70th anniversary in 2007. Over the next 18 months, Hicks followed Philip across 3 continents from his annual ride on the Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster, to the world premiere of his new opera in Germany and in performance with a didgeridoo virtuoso in Australia. Allowed unprecedented access to Glass working process, family life, spiritual teachers and long time collaborators, Hicks gives us a unique glimpse behind the curtain into the life of a surprising and complex man.The documentary is a remarkable portrait of one of the greatest - and a times controversial artists of this or any era. A 2 disc DVD with nearly two hours of additional material. DVD Special Features - 9 deleted scenes - 70 mins of performance footage - Director Commentary - Addittional interviews

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27143 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-07-06
• Rating: Exempt
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 114 minutes

Synopsis
When notable narrative director Scott Hicks (SHINE, SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS) picked up an HD camera to shoot some footage of celebrated composer Philip Glass, he had no intention of turning it into a feature-length documentary. Yet after capturing so much insightful footage and realising that Glass and his family and friends were up to the task, that is exactly what happened. With GLASS: A PORTRAIT OF PHILIP IN TWELVE PARTS, Hicks has delivered an intimate, illuminating glimpse into the life of one of America's most fascinating artists. The film's present-day footage follows Glass as he works on his Eighth Symphony and also prepares to present the operatic spectacle BARBARIANS AT THE GATE. But his current duties don't stop there. He's also busy scoring Woody Allen's CASSANDRA'S DREAM in addition to several more films.

Glass is an obsessive workaholic who takes his work with him even when he goes on vacation (to the disappointment of his third wife, Holly, who expresses her feelings in one of the film's most unexpectedly revealing moments). Meanwhile, Hicks visits close friends and family members, who recount Glass's life story with clarity and humour. But the film really belongs to Glass himself, whose pragmatic approach to creation is daunting and inspiring. To him, one must show up every single day and put in the time to create work that is worthy of preservation. To remain focused, he performs many different spiritual and physical acts of meditation and exercise. GLASS often feels more like a home movie than an outright documentary, proving that Hicks is as adept at shooting real life as he is at filming screenplays.

Review
An entertaining film that will fascinate his admirers. Shine director makes another pianist accessible in this engaging documentary --Hollywood Reporter

Review
Offers fresh insight into Glass's insatiable drive and pragmatic cosmology --Time Out New York

Customer Reviews

Powerful and intimate. An insight into the life of a genius.
Above all other things this is a film to engage with emotionally. There's a little background detail about the cultural environment in which Philip Glass became a composer and there's an insight or two about how his wonderful music is created, but this film is so much more.
Philip Glass appears to be an uninhibited and honest man. He allows the camera to view his life with a startling intimacy. You see his family life and his most personal of relationships laid bare and you learn of the intellectual, spiritual and passionate drive responsible for the staggering music he has created. it is impossible to sit through this documentary without feeling humbled and in awe of the genius that is Philip Glass, and yet to feel an enormous empathy with the result of his expression.
If only there were film makers in Mozart's time!

Pure Glass.
This beautifully shot feature length documentary from film director Scott ('Shine')Hicks is set to become the definitive potraite of the great American "Minimalist" composer Philip Glass. Interviewee's include Philips Wife, children, siblings, old friends such as Chuck Close and collaborators from Woody Allan to Martin Scorcese. In the twelve Chapters that this film is divided into very aspect of Philips life is covered, both past and present: from early childhood (including earliest musical memories and inspirations), to educational experiences at Chicago college and The Julliard School, to studying under Nadia Boulanger and Ravi Shankar, the origins and formation of the Philip Glass Ensemble, formative experiences in Paris and New York and even PG's religous beliefs and practices are filmed and discussed, it is a truely exaustive account of a life lived to the fullest.
The real revelation and delight of this film, however, is the personality of the man himself; engaging, warm, funny, open, candid, 'Down-to-Earth' and articulate with none of the pomposity, granduer or self-importance one imagines when the word 'Composer' is mentioned!He is the total antithesis of how you would imagine a composer of Philips stature to be. Once you have seen this film you feel as if you have made a new friend, thats how intimate a portraite it is.
Having first discovered Philips music through a late-night screening of 'Powaqqatsi'(still my favourite) it is a delight to see that films visionary director Godfrey(Koyaanisqatsi)Reggio included in this doc' and in the bonus interviews on the second disc in this collection. When will someone (please) make a feature length documentary about that fascinating man and his lifes work? He's a genius!
The second disc contains the three full 'unabridged' interviews with Philip which last for aprox' 1 hour 45 minutes (edited versions of which appear in the main feature) and bonus performances including: 'Dracula'(with Kronos Quartet), 'Metamorphosis'(solo piano), 'Orion'(Philip Glass Ensemble), and 'Einstein on the Beach'(rehearsal only!). This two disc set is surely a must buy for any serious admirer of Philip Glass' music.Highly recommended.

Outstanding documentary
A wonderfully structured, fascinating insight into the life and work of grand master Philip Glass. If it were a book, you wouldn't be able to put it down. Thoroughly recommended!