Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993)

A collection of vignettes highlighting different aspects of the life, work, and character of the acclaimed Canadian classical pianist.

Director:

François Girard

Writers:

François Girard (screenplay), Don McKellar (screenplay)

Stars:

Colm Feore, Derek Keurvorst, Katya Ladan

7 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colm Feore	...	Glenn Gould
Derek Keurvorst	...	Gould's Father
Katya Ladan	...	Gould's Mother
Devon Anderson	...	Young Glenn Age 3
Joshua Greenblatt	...	Young Glenn Age 8
Sean Vertigo	...	Young Glenn Age 12 (as Sean Ryan)
Kate Hennig	...	Chambermaid
Sean Doyle	...	Porter
Sharon Bernbaum	...	Female Guide
Don McKellar	...	Concert Promoter
David Hughes	...	Stagehand
Carlo Rota	...	C.B.S. Producer (as Carlo D. Rota)
Peter Millard	...	C.B.S. Engineer
John Dolan	...	C.B.S. Assistant Engineer
Allegra Fulton	...	Waitress

Storyline

As the title suggests, this dramatised documentary about the eccentric Canadian pianist Glenn Gould is broken up into thirty-two short films (mirroring the thirty-two part structure of Bach's 'Goldberg Variations', the recording that Gould made famous), each giving us an insight into some aspect of Gould's life and career. Out of respect for the music lead actor Colm Feore is never seen playing the piano, merely reacting to Gould's own recordings, which are extensively featured

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Plot Keywords:

piano | glenn gould | no opening credits | yehudi menuhin | northern canada | 

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Taglines:

The sound of genius.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The structure of the film is based on the structure of the piece that Glenn Gould is most famous for playing, Johann Sebastian Bach's "Goldberg Variations", which are 32 short pieces of music that are usually played together.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Glenn Gould: [voiceover] My mother tells me that by five years old I had decided definitively to become a concert pianist. I think she had decided some time earlier. The story goes that while I was in the womb she played the piano continuously to give me a head start, and evidently it paid off. My mother was my first teacher, and I've never doubted her methods. After all, she introduced me to Bach.

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Connections

Features Spheres (1969)

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Soundtracks

Sarabande from French Suite No. 1 in D minor
, BWV 812
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Glenn Gould

User Reviews

Magic is created when the art of film making and the music of Glenn Gould come together.

The eccentric behavior of rock and pop icons usually take center stage in the media, but here's a classical musician and virtuoso performer that literally steals the show, both in achievements and lifestyle.

Glenn Gould popped pills, gave up performing live concerts because not everyone in the audience could hear the music the same way, created radio documentaries that mirrored symphonies and played the stock market like an expert. Glenn Gould was a typical hermit who only called people to talk when he was bored, he wanted to visit the arctic in the dark of winter and he donated his estate to charity.

He died from a stroke at age 50, but recordings of his music have been sent into space. Glenn Gould lives on in the hearts of classical music fans and those who have seen 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould.

Details

Country:

Canada Netherlands Portugal Finland

Language:

English French

Release Date:

26 November 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

32 Curtas Metragens Sobre Glenn Gould

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,319,521

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,319,521

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rhombus Media, Téléfilm Canada, Ontario Film Development Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1