Pianomania

Name: Pianomania
Genre: Music, Documentary
Released: November 4, 2011
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 67

2011

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Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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Pianomania

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Movie Details & Credits

First Run Features | Release Date: November 4, 2011 | Not Rated

Summary: Pianomania takes the viewer along on a humorous journey into the secret world of sounds, and accompanies Stefan Knüpfer at his unusual job with world famous pianists like Lang Lang, Alfred Brendel, Rudolf Buchbinder and Pierre-Laurent Aimand, among others. To find the right instrument with the necessary qualities, compatible with the visionPianomania takes the viewer along on a humorous journey into the secret world of sounds, and accompanies Stefan Knüpfer at his unusual job with world famous pianists like Lang Lang, Alfred Brendel, Rudolf Buchbinder and Pierre-Laurent Aimand, among others. To find the right instrument with the necessary qualities, compatible with the vision of the virtuoso, to tune it to perfection and finally to get it on the stage, needs nerves of steel, boundless passion, and the extraordinary competence in translating words into sounds. (First Run Features)

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Director: Lilian Franck and Robert Cibis

Genre(s): Music, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer

Nov 6, 2011

Pianomania is the thoroughly apt title for a thoroughly enjoyable documentary. Read full review

Sam Adams

Nov 1, 2011

When sitting through this detail-heavy documentary, nonaficionados may feel like they're watching paint dry, albeit in the company of an artist who savors each and every shade. Read full review

Joseph Jon Lanthier

Nov 1, 2011

Stefan Knüpfer's subtle charisma feels more suited to a beefily human New Yorker article than a documentary film. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Nov 3, 2011

As Pianomania gradually reveals, Knüpfer is able to do this so well because he is as much of a crazed perfectionist as the pianists themselves, maybe even more so. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Nov 3, 2011

Although there's more romance in "Buck," a classic American survivor story in the triumphant individual vein, in Pianomania the very dry, very accomplished Mr. Knüpfer makes engaging company both because he keeps enviable company and because he's a full-on geek, though one possessed by pianos. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Nov 4, 2011

It has a pleasing smallness -- it's cinematic chamber music -- that almost makes you overlook its inability to really explain its subject. Read full review

Brian Miller

Nov 1, 2011

Directors Lilian Franck and Robert Cibis fail to plumb their subject's frustrations or any other insightful biographical details. Read full review

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RobinsNest

Mar 7, 2012

This is a film I usually give a U for unratable. After @20 minutes I started the dreaded fast forward. It's a documentary about a piano tuner but with nothing about the man. Why? How? He must be so aware of the what the artist wants, but how did he get that way? Was he once a musician? ItThis is a film I usually give a U for unratable. After @20 minutes I started the dreaded fast forward. It's a documentary about a piano tuner but with nothing about the man. Why? How? He must be so aware of the what the artist wants, but how did he get that way? Was he once a musician? It follows him as he prepares instruments for a few artists. No insight, just dialogue. The best part was the end credits where the "tuner" shows some of the intricacies of his craft-working with felt, etc. So I gave it a C, for average but it's not worth seeing. It should get "No rating".… Expand

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