''Rhythm Is It!'' is a

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

German

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

directed by Thomas Grube and Enrique Sánchez Lansch. The film documents a project undertaken by conductor

Simon Rattle Sir Simon Denis Rattle (born 19 January 1955) is a British conductor with German citizenship. He rose to international prominence during the 1980s and 1990s, while music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (1980–1998). Rat ...

and choreographer Royston Maldoom to stage a performance of Stravinsky's (''The Rite of Spring'') with a cast of 250 children recruited from Berlin's public schools. The choreographer inspired the young people from 25 countries in demanding rehearsals to work seriously and act as an ensemble, overcoming obstacles and frustration, and to find self-confidence based on body perception. A successful performance was given for 3000 spectators in the Berlin

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In 2002/03,

's first season as chief conductor of the

Berlin Philharmonic The Berlin Philharmonic () is a German orchestra based in Berlin. It is one of the most popular, acclaimed and well-respected orchestras in the world. Throughout the 20th century, the orchestra was led by conductors Wilhelm Furtwängler (1922� ...

, he initiated a project to stage Stravinsky's ballet (''The Rite of Spring'') in a live performance played by the orchestra, and danced by 250 children and young adults from 25 countries who had no experience in dance. It was the orchestra's first Education Project. The film by Thomas Grube and Enrique Sánchez Lansch shows the rehearsals of the young dancers with choreographer Royston Maldoom and his team, the social background of selected dancers, part of the performance and the joy afterwards. The choreographer, who has thirty years of experience in large projects like this, and Susannah Broughton, his assistant, demand much from the young people, provoking dedication and discipline which is new to many of them. The ballet master questions that everything should always be fun (""), a common concept of education at the time, and tells the young people that dance is serious, and he always enjoyed searching for the seriousness of dance (""). During six weeks of rehearsals, he tried to encourage the young people to delve into themselves, perceiving themselves, to overcome anxieties, and to find a new self-confidence based on body perception. At times, teachers were irritated and tried to protect their students from overstraining. The documentary shows how the multi-cultural group of students became an ensemble acting with dedication. Three young people appear in interviews and with social background, Marie, Martin and Olayinka. Marie, 15 years old, tries to pass school exams; Olayinka, age 16, is a war-orphan from Nigeria who arrived recently; and Martin, age 19, is fighting his inhibitions. They discover new potentials in the dance which leads them to new hidden worlds. Rattle is filmed in rehearsals with the orchestra. The film documents the opening of the orchestra to society. After the successful performance for 3000 spectators in the Berlin

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Reception

A reviewer noted that the film is a convincing voice for art and education (""), seeing culture not as a luxury but as a necessity that creates meaning, and seeing education not as a collection of prescriptions, but as "birth assistance" for becoming human (""), and recommended it to all pedagogues.

Release

In Germany the film was released in theatres in September 2004. The film also won several prizes, including two for Best Editing and Best Documentary at the 2005

German Film Awards The German Film Award (), also known as Lola after its prize statuette, is the national film award of Germany. It is presented at an annual ceremony honouring cinematic achievements in the German film industry. Besides being the most important ...

Awards

References

External links

Official website
* * {{authority control 2004 films 2004 documentary films Films set in Berlin Documentary films about classical music and musicians Berlin Philharmonic German musical documentary films 2000s German-language films 2000s German films Films directed by Enrique Sánchez Lansch Simon Rattle