What is the best way to develop an artist? That is a question posed by cellist Paul Katz, who for decades has been both a teacher and performer. Filmmaker Josh Aronson's documentary follows a seven-year journey taken by Katz and some of his students. Katz believes that "perfection is not a goal... there will be mistakes." He is looking for "elegance," helping each student find a variety of sounds while "making color." It's always a battle between mastering the various elements of emotion, mood, and technical aspects. Katz must find a balance between his teaching and performing, but he feels that the former has helped enrich his performances. His students have varying goals: one wants to teach music to inner city students; another would like to perform for less classically inclined audiences; and a third feels that music, while always remaining a part of his life, may not become his career. With humor and compassion, Katz helps students prepare for competitions and deal with stage fright, advising them that the "brain can often get in your way." He also recalls other father figures who were mentors for him, citing a lineage and obligation stretching from teacher to student over the decades. With its insights into the nature of teaching, Talent Has Hunger will appeal to more than just those with an interest in music. Extras include an interview with the director, a cello lessons segment, and student updates. An inspiring tribute, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
Talent Has Hunger
(2015) 83 min. DVD: $24.95. First Run Features (avail. from most distributors). Volume 32, Issue 1
Talent Has Hunger
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: