High Fidelity: Adventures of the Guarneri String Quartet [Import]

Fans of the Guarneri Quartet will enjoy this chance to go behind the scenes for a glimpse into the world of this fine musical group. However, anyone who loves classical music and has even an inkling of the time, commitment and struggle involved in playing it well will appreciate this film as well. Rather than try to paint a cohesive and tidy picture of the Guarneri, director Allan Miller has wisely chosen to let them emerge as they are - four strong, highly opinionated individuals who are still in the process of evolving with the music they play.

The overriding question of the film, of course, is how has the Guarneri managed to stay together for so long? Even the members themselves have no good answer to that one, but as the film follows each of them from home to rehearsals to airports and music halls, some recurring themes emerge. There is humor and passion, and the satisfaction standing before a wildly clapping audience. There is also something vibrant and challenging in the interactions between the four, even when they disagree. Clearly part of what keeps the Guarneri together is the opportunity to discuss, interpret, and ultimately come to terms with superb music in the company of like minded, if occasionally cantankerous, colleagues.

If there is anything this film lacks, it's time. The 85-minute running time simply isn't enough to do justice to these complex and enigmatic musicians. You will arrive at the end wishing for more. But in my book, that's a good thing. Encore!

This film is fascinating on several levels. First, the viewer gets an inside look at a highly creative, extremely disciplined, classical music string quartet in rehearsal, in performance, traveling together, and at home with their families.

Second, we learn a great deal about the internal dynamics of a `team' with a mission - quality performance of a very demanding musical genre that requires cooperation, dedication, discipline, and the total love of what one is doing.

Third, we learn something about the nature of personal relationships, writ large, times four minimally, and more if one includes, as one must, the families of the musicians. We learn what relationships of High Fidelity require, their rewards, and their sometimes all too painful costs. In one particularly moving scene, for example, we see the pain in the face and body language, and hear it in the words, of violist Michael Tree discussing his desire to play, sometimes, the violin rather than the viola in concert. He is speaking with fellow members Arnold Steinhardt and David Soyer. They do not seem to understand Tree's desire. And at least in the film, his desire goes unrealized. In another case, we hear the pleading of violinist Arnold Steinhardt that the quartet perform a piece of music he loves. His feelings are not shared, to say the least, by the other members of the quartet.

Finally, and unexpectedly for me at least, we learn something about democracy, that it is built solidly, unequivocally, and constitutionally on compromise. We learn that in a democracy one is required to speak his or her mind, to give his or her opinion, to argue his or her case, and be unconditionally prepared to lose, and not leave.

This story is not about a lonely artist in a garret. It is about four men who have an overwhelming desire to do something that requires they cooperate with each other - even when it hurts, as it often does. And it is not all about pain. The music, oh the music! What exquisite music these men make together!

This is a really great documentary. It incorporates a good blend of playing, interviews and other footage and finishes with a knockout performance of the fourth movement of Beethoven's Op 59 No 3.