‘In the lovely documentary “That Pärt Feeling: The Universe of Arvo Pärt”, producer-director Paul Hegeman highlights the music of renowned Estonian composer Arvo Pärt while attempting to unveil the mystery around the purportedly reclusive writer of such famed works as “Tabula Rasa,” “Fratres,” “Trivium” and “Für Alina,” all stirringly performed here […] Listening to the film’s gorgeous renderings will make you a believer.’
Arvo Pärt, de meest gevierde componist van onze tijd, wordt doorgaans beschouwd als een soort kluizenaar. Maar wie de componist aan het werk ziet, ervaart juist het tegenovergestelde; de inmiddels 83-jarige musicus combineert een ongelooflijke gevoeligheid met humor en een tomeloze energie. Dit is onder meer te zien tijdens zijn intensieve samenwerking met het Cello Octet Amsterdam, een unieke gebeurtenis die centraal staat in de documentaire. We krijgen zo een bijzondere inkijk in het universum van Arvo Pärt. Een universum dat niet alleen bewoond wordt door klassieke musici als Tõnu Kaljuste, Candida Thompson of Daniel Reuss maar ook door andere kunstenaars zoals de choreograaf Jiří Kylián, filmmaker Alain Gomis en de jonge Canadese techno-componist Kara-Lis Coverdale. Allen zijn zij op zoek naar het Pärt gevoel.
Jaar van productie: 2019
Duur: 78 minuten
Talen: Engels, Nederlands, Duits, Frans
Land: Nederland
Producent: Paul Hegeman Productions
Distributie: Mokum Filmdistributie (NL) – Film Kino Text Filmverleih (DE)
International Sales: ORF Content Sales International
Festivals
Zagreb Dox Film Festival – Kroatië
Beldocs International Documentary Film Festival – Servië
Berkshire International Film Festival – VS
Two Riversides Film and Art Festival – Polen
Arvo Pärt Centre Film Evenings – Estland
Sonika Ecrano Documentary&Music Festival – Portugal
Arvo Pärt… and a Littlemore – UK
Releases Bioscoop
Nederland: 28 februari 2019
VS en Canada: 24 mei 2019
Duitsland: 10 september 2020
Verenigd Koninkrijk/Ierland: 10 december 2022
TV
Finland
Estland
New York
Italië
Taiwan
REGIE EN SCENARIO PAUL HEGEMAN
CAMERA PAUL HEGEMAN // AUKE DIJKSTRA
GELUID WOUTER VELDHUIS // RAPHAEL BOURDON // STEPHAN KOS
MONTAGE CAITLIN HULSCHER
SOUND DESIGN JAIM SAHULEKA
COLOR GRADING JOEL SAHULEKA
GEPRODUCEERD DOOR PAUL HEGEMAN
CAST
ARVO PÄRT
TÕNU KALJUSTE
JIŘĺ KYLIÁN
CELLO OCTET AMSTERDAM
KARA-LIS COVERDALE
CANDIDA THOMPSON AMSTERDAM SINFONIETTA
ALAIN GOMIS
RALPH VAN RAAT
DANIEL REUSS CAPPELLA AMSTERDAM
De pers over Het Pärt gevoel
“A conventional documentary would be insufficient for the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, a renowned genius whose reticent nature belies his incandescent compositions. Dutch producer-director Paul Hegeman finds the 84-year-old artist at the height of his craft. Pärt’s musical storytelling has been described as minimalist, neoclassical, spiritual, and ethereal, and Hegeman effectively allows it to speak for itself. Rather than ticking the boxes of Pärt’s biography or talking to him at length about his process, Hegeman gives his audience plenty of opportunities to experience the feeling referenced in the doc’s title, through a wash of stirring communion that’s mainly conveyed in the film through Pärt’s rehearsals with the Cello Octet Amsterdam and performances in glittering concert halls around the world.”
“The strongest moments of this film are those in which the fragility of Arvo Pärt’s music is conveyed through the listener Arvo Pärt. And so does its expressive power. Once there was a dog in one of his concerts, the choir conductor Raul Boesten recalls an anecdote of the composer. At the climax of the music, the dog began to howl ecstatically. He, Pärt said about himself – he was like this dog.”
“What differentiates That Pärt Feeling: The Universe of Arvo Pärt from other such documentaries and biopics is the opportunity to watch a composer engage intimately not only with an orchestra’s conductor, but also individual musicians. Likewise, Hegeman’s camera observes his rapturous demeanor as his music is being played in rehearsal. Because of his unkempt beard and hair, Pärt sometimes comes off as a mad genius or nutty professor, with his head in the clouds and body on the ground. At other times, the 84-year-old composer seems perfectly normal. There’s no single, simple way to express passion. It’s easier to detect on the faces of the musicians and conductors Hegeman interviews, including classical musicians Tõnu Kaljuste, Candida Thompson and Daniel Reuss; choreographer Jirí Kylián; filmmakers Alain Gomis; and musician Kara-Lis Coverdale. I didn’t expect to enjoy That Pärt Feeling: The Universe of Arvo Pärt as much as I did, let alone be emotionally stirred by the music.”
“As an introduction to Pärt’s work, this works likes a dream. As an introduction to Pärt himself, it works less well, but this is partly because he seems to have absolutely no interest in having a media profile. Let the man to himself, and give him the time and space to do the things that he enjoys. Pärt is still alive and is, apparently the most performed living composer. And yet, he seems to have escaped too much undue media attention. Fair play to him for this. And in this sense, I think that this film shows the required respect that recognises a great artist, but doesn’t intrude more than it has to.”
“Arvo Pärt, arguably one of the most celebrated and performed composers alive, is considered something of a recluse […] However, Paul Hegeman’s documentary paints a totally different portrait, revealing an artist who combines sensitivity with jocular humor, humility and energy.”
“This film by Dutchman Paul Hegeman offers a distinctive look at the influence of Arvo Pärt’s music, seeking to understand the wonder of Pärt through the eyes of professional musicians. Certainly, the composer reveals himself to the viewer from a different angle during an intensive period of rehearsals.”
“That Pärt Feeling: The Universe of Arvo Pärt serves to remind us of what a treasure we have in this wonderful man and his astonishing music that seems to emerge from a place and an era that the rest of us can never find on our own”
“It is a music documentary that is dedicated to the music and gives it the most space. Musicians, conductors and orchestra directors have their say, but more than what they say, we see how they work it out for themselves. That is why there are not only concert recordings, but also concert rehearsals. It takes the “Pärt feeling” to be able to play his music. Hegeman makes it clear, the music has a lasting effect.”
“That Pärt feeling is immediately felt when you listen to the music”
“What these 75 minutes of film convey is the incredible sensitivity of this great recluse. The camera captures his subtle humor as well as his energy, especially during rehearsals. And then you are with Jirí Kylian: the world needs this escapist and introspectionist more than ever.”
“The close-up of the humble genius with a sense of humor is the most beautiful image of the film”
Stills uit Het Pärt gevoel
Arvo Pärt and Paul Hegeman
Toñu Kaljuste & Noord Nederlands Orkest
Tõnu Kaljuste
Cello Octet Amsterdam
Kara-Lis Coverdale
Orchestre Kimbanguiste de Kinshasa
Het Pärt gevoel
