MovieChat Forums > Saraband (2004) Discussion > A cellist point of view

A cellist point of view


I already wrote 2 posts here in Oct 2005. I have seen the film again recently and loved it as much if not more than the 2 first times. Especially after IB death. Each time I see things that I had not seen previously, this is always the case with excellent stuff. However I was shocked by the way father and daughter almost throw away their bow in the scene where they argue. They were ready to play together and suddently, they put their cellow down, because they want to talk and, instead of delicately placing their bow on the cello as we always do, even when in a hurry or upset, they almost throw it on the floor. Anyone who knows how fragile (and expensive) these things are would have been as shocked as I was.

I just uploaded on IB's message board a post titled: A climb dedicated to Ingmar Bergman

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I was also shocked at how carelessly they treated their instruments, and I'm not even a musician. I suspect that in negotiation the human interactions, the instruments took a lower priority.

Because you're a cellist, can you expound on the professor's letter staying that Karin's technique would lead to physical problems later? I did not notice this, but I'm not sure how anyone can tell.

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I thought the same exact thing, when I was watching that scene. A real cellist would have never done that. But then, in the same scene, Johan throws his eyeglasses 2-3 meters away and they land on the table. A person wearing spectacles would never do such a thing either. Of course eyeglasses are not as valuable as cellos and still. Even in great anger it's an automatic thing you develop when you have been playing your instrument for so many years, so a real cellist wouldn't handle his/her cello so carelessly. On the other hand, there are many other shocking things done by our characters. For example: you're not supposed to kiss your daughter on the lips (and who knows what other worse gross things they were doing ?) or sleep with her in the same bed. Or commit suicide. Johan was an emotionally unstable person. I had a disturbing feeling every time he appeared. I was even surprised he didn't smash his cello over something (or someone).


To WarpedRecord:

As a pianist I can tell you that instrumentalists, solo performers in particular, (I doubt that can be refered to members of an orchestra) can have physical problems if they lack technical perfection. I won't state other reasons that cause these problems, it would take us too far and that would only be interesting to the professional musicians.

Due to a functional overstrain when playing a musical instrument a number of upper extremity diseases may occur (myositis, bursitis, epicondylitis, ganglions, tendovaginitis, periarthritis, ligamentitis), causing not only pain, but also limit the ability to work as a musician and in some cases requiring re-training.

Immediately Robert Schumann comes to mind, who permanently injured his right hand. He was studying law, when he decided to quit university and become a concert pianist. He wanted his technique to be perfect and perfect as soon as possible. For that reason he invented a mechanical device designed to strengthen the weakest fingers, also, allegedly, he underwent a surgical procedure to separate the tendons of his fingers, which permanently ruined his hands. After that he abandoned ideas of a concert career and devoted himself instead to composition.

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Thanks very much for your insight, persymfance! Your post provides valuable context.

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I'm happy you found my comment useful, WarpedRecord. Thank you :)

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