IDFA 2012
Balkan Melody
Balkan Melodie
Stefan Schwietert
Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria
2012
92 min
n.a.
A whole life is collected together in the study of Marcel Cellier's opulent villa. The frail musician looks back at his life with a glint in his eye. His records hang on the wall - records that have sold millions. Slides, film and audio recordings of the trips he and his wife Catherine took through the Balkans fill the bookcases. The couple traveled some 65 times to Romania alone, searching for exceptional local music waiting to be introduced to Western audiences. The filmmaker follows in the illustrious footsteps of the Celliers. He travels to the places where they have been making musical friends since the 1950s and goes in search of new musical treasures. The past does not stand still in ; the new cannot exist without the old, and the synthesis between East and West is at least as important. All of this comes together wonderfully in the documentary. The majestic Swiss Alps and the mysterious, misty Balkan hills, and Cellier's organ music with Gheorghe Zamfir's pan flutes. Together, they introduced a completely new sound that conquered the hearts of Western music lovers.
Credits
Screening copy
maximage GmbH
maximage GmbH
World Sales
maximage GmbH
maximage GmbH
Production
Co-production
Zero One Film GmbH,
Agitprop
Zero One Film GmbH,
Agitprop
Screenplay
Cinematography
Editing
Music
Involved TV Channel
SRF,
BR,
BNT,
SRG SSR Idee Suisse,
Television Suisse Romande
SRF,
BR,
BNT,
SRG SSR Idee Suisse,
Television Suisse Romande