Synopsis
This film profiles three musicians who, while pursuing acclaimed solo careers, sometimes come together to form a distinctive trio: Gérard Barreaux, an accordionist who keeps the café concert tradition alive through his music. Ami Flammer, a violinist, soloist and professor at the Paris Conservatory; and Frédéric Stochl, principal double bassist of the Ensemble Intercontemporain and professor at the Paris Conservatory. This nameless, and almost non-existent trio, meets sporadically for occasional concerts, with no concern for any career ambitions. They have no real set repertoire either. Beethoven and swing waltzes, Berio and La Cumparsita, Gypsy and Yiddish melodies, Nino Rota and Schubert flow mixing sounds of the double bass, violin, and accordion. The audience is at the heart of this music, not divided by genres or styles, it is a single entity of art where the pitch of a Piaf song is the same as that of a Beethoven concert.
Excerpt
Press
A violinist, a double bassist, and an accordionist come together over popular melodies. The result is a fascinating documentary at the crossroads of musical worlds. Unusual and captivating.
Le Parisien
Ilan skilfully captures the trio’s complicity, filming them freely as they recall their journeys or come together to play Beethoven, Nino Rota, swing waltzes, or Gypsy tunes in a provincial cultural center. Delightful.
La Vie
A film where Piaf, Piazzolla, and Beethoven come together with the joyful camaraderie of three artists.
L’Humanité
Production
A co-production of Cabiria Films and Arte
Crew
Directed by: Ilan Flammer
Written by: Ilan Flammer
Cinematography: Patrick Jan
Sound: Jean-Pierre Fénié
Edited by: Martine Voisin
Musiciens
Gérard Barreaux: accordionist
Ami Flammer: violinist
Frédéric Stochl: double bassist