The film’s subtitle identifies it as a “study of the constructive discontent of a composer”. It is a portrait of the pugnacious musician Paul Dessau (1894 – 1979), who was controversial in East Germany, as a teacher. It follows the composer as he rehearses the “Bach Variations” with the Berlin state opera orchestra, as well during classes at the Polytechnic School I in Zeuthen, where he strives to teach the students a critical attitude. In an interview, Dessau bemoans the simplification of artistic media and elucidates the meaning and necessity of “hard sounds in an era that is not soft”. As we see when he works, “pleasure requires effort” … “art is never comfortable. Building socialism is not comfortable at all. That’s why I’m in favour of the uncomfortable”.
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Cast
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Richard Cohn-Vossen Director · Hans-Eberhard Leupold Cinematographer Christian Lehmann Cinematographer
First release August 10, 1967 · Produced in XG, Germany
Production
DEFA-Studio für Dokumentarfilme
Production
XG · Germany
Produced in
Languages
Original language
German
Spoken on screen
German
Release dates
Germany · August 10, 1967
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
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