In a Nutshell: A Portrait of Elizabeth Tashjian (2005)

Some three years in the making, In a Nutshell is a documentary on Elizabeth Yegsa Tashjian -- a one-time concert violinist, heralded artist, Christian Science healer, late TV celebrity and ... See full summary »

Director:

Don Bernier

Stars:

Barbara Beeching, Mundy Hepburn, Liddy Karter

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Barbara Beeching	...	Herself
Mundy Hepburn	...	Himself
Liddy Karter	...	Herself
Doug Kirby	...	Himself
Maureen McCabe	...	Herself
Marty Ostrow	...	Himself
Tom Risom	...	Himself
Mervin Roberts	...	Himself
Christopher B. Steiner	...	Himself
Elizabeth Tashjian	...	Herself
Christine Woodside	...	Herself

Storyline

Some three years in the making, In a Nutshell is a documentary on Elizabeth Yegsa Tashjian -- a one-time concert violinist, heralded artist, Christian Science healer, late TV celebrity and founder of the Nut Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut. In her 90s, she became a ward of the state and confined to a nursing home against her will. This feature-length film focuses on her fight to preserve her identity and regain her life.

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Plot Keywords:

violinist | art | aging disorder

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Music

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 2005 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mimetic Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

superb

Movie cameras and Don Bernier were made for each other. Throw in a lady of thoroughly questionable sanity and voilà - culture for the cultured! The movie gives a fair and honest portrayal of a lady who is an enigma for everyone, herself surely included. It explores the origins of her fascination with nuts, details the turning of her home into a nut museum, and documents the tragic happenstances of her life. Never once does it place judgments - rather, the viewer is left with a muddle of ideas and feelings - and creating that muddle was perhaps the only balanced method that could be used to accurately present Ms. Tashjian's story. I've been thinking about it for months (my surefire sign of good art) and still can't come to any conclusions. Neither can the director or his subject. this is documentary at its height - it's also thoroughly human and as engaging as a fairy tale. ah life is grand. thanks to all the participants in this film for making my life richer.