As actor and filmmaker Ethan Hawke tells it, some years ago he was feeling deeply conflicted about his artistic identity and legacy, when he happened to take a seat next to an unassuming octogenarian named Seymour Bernstein. Once an acclaimed classical concert pianist, Bernstein had given up public performance at the height of his career to devote himself full-time to teaching and composing. The older man’s elegant wisdom on the subject of art had a potent effect on Hawke. From this meeting a friendship developed, as did a new biographical documentary, Seymour: An Introduction.
In keeping with an eager student’s yearning to soak up his mentor’s knowledge, Hawke’s approach is that of an attentive listener and unobtrusive observer. Much of the film is narrated by Bernstein himself, who infuses his remarkable life story with wry humor while also conveying his serious-minded passion for music. Students, collaborators, and friends provide glowing interjections, but it is Bernstein’s tale to recount. The film also steps back to simply capture the details of the man’s daily routine, whether instructing young pianists or carefully folding up the sofa bed in his one-bedroom apartment.
Hawke’s film proves to be something more than a portrait of a nearly-forgotten classical music celebrity. While the film includes a thin narrative about Bernstein’s first performance in over three decades, Seymour’s essence lies in the pianist’s expansive insights into art, success, and meaning, which have shaped his life down to intricacies of his teaching methods. Having long ago grown disillusioned with the commercialization of music, Bernstein is unabashed in his commitment to artistic integrity and artist self-care. It’s easy to see why Hawke was so enchanted by the man’s worldliness, and the fundamental achievement of Seymour is its lean grace in transmitting the profundity of Bernstein’s philosophy to a wider audience.
Seymour: An Introduction opens Friday, April 10 at Plaza Frontenac Cinemas, 1701 South Lindbergh.
