Why Competitions - Production & Contact Info

Why Competitions (2011)
78 min | Documentary

Why Competitions (2011)

78 min | Documentary

Nobody less than the Hungarian Bela Bartok once declared: "Competitions are for horses, not artists!" Using the example of the Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, the documentary film "Why Competitions" looks into the question whether the ...See moreNobody less than the Hungarian Bela Bartok once declared: "Competitions are for horses, not artists!" Using the example of the Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, the documentary film "Why Competitions" looks into the question whether the competitive spirit that dominates music competitions is conformable with objective and ethical precepts, whether the prize winners actually benefit from their success and what happens to those who are often being stigmatized as "losers". This documentary film about the most important piano competition in the world was produced on the occasion of Frederic Chopins 200th birthday. It lets the participants and jury members have their say, some of who have learned to keep their distance to their experiences, yet most of them are unable to forget and accept the fact they had to suffer injustice even after 60 years. The film focuses on the scandal following the elimination of the Croatian pianist Ivo Pogorelich who did not pass to the final round at the competition in 1980, which caused the world-famous Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich to leave the jury in protest, thanks to which Pogorelich became a star overnight. 1980 also marked a turning point in Polish history: A few months before the competition began the trade union "Solidarnosc" was established. The film is divided in several chapters with each of them dealing with another competition year. In 1980 it was Pogorelich who took center stage, in 1975 the three Soviet competitors who instead of winning the competition only took 2nd, 3rd, and 4th prize were "penalized" by the Soviet Regime and thus prevented from making a career after the competition. The last chapter deals with the general question whether music competitions can be just and useful. Never before has such a wide range of world-famous musicians and eminent pedagogues spoken on this subject so candidly. With some ugly truths about corruption and bribery being revealed by these respectable persons, the question remains: Why do these people often chose to remain an integral part of the international competition circuit? Written by Oskar Jezior See less

Contacts

+ Add

Become a member to see contact information for Why Competitions.

Cast	+ Add Cast
39 cast members

Name	Known for
Ivo Pogorelich Self Self See fewer	Sebbe (2010)
Martha Argerich Self Self See fewer	Wasabi (2001)
Vladimir Ashkenazy Self Self See fewer	Cold Pursuit (2019)
Garrick Ohlsson Self Self See fewer	Boarding School (2018)
Emanuel Ax Self Self See fewer	The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Janina Fialkowska Self Self See fewer	Aquarius (1970)
Diane Walsh Self Self See fewer	Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)
Kazimierz Kord Self Self See fewer	The Truman Show (1998)
Pavel Gililov Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Dina Yoffe Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Tatiana Malinin-Fedkina Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Lidia Grychtolowna Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Leon Fleisher Self Self See fewer	Camera Three (1955)
Christian Zacharias Self Self See fewer	Big Gold Brick (2022)
Lev Natochenny Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Andrzej Jasinki Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Piotr Paleczny Self Self See fewer	Music on Two (1992)
Arie Vardi Self Self See fewer	Chopin's Afterlife (2005)
Matti Raekallio Self Self See fewer	Isänmaan kaikuja (1991)
Karl-Heinz Kämmerling Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Bernd Goetzke Self Self See fewer	Kulturplatz (2004)
Eric Zuber Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Rachel Naomi Kudo Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Yoheved Kaplinsky Self Self See fewer	Imagine (2003)
Robert McDonald Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Wanda Wilkomirska Self Self See fewer	Matka swojej matki (1996)
Claudius Tanski Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Elisso Virsaladze Self Self See fewer	Jardins en automne (2006)
Adam Harasiewicz Self Self See fewer	Electroma (2006)
Angela Hewitt Self Self See fewer	The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
Ewa Poblocka Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Tadeusz Strugala Self Self See fewer	The Pianist (2002)
Monika Strugala Self Self See fewer	Ida Haendel: This Is My Heritage (2011)
Arie Van Lysbeth Self Self See fewer	Why Competitions (2011)
Evgeny Kissin Self Self See fewer	Filme muito breve: Miguel Franco (1918-1988) (2019)
Piotr Anderszewski Self Self See fewer	The Romantics and Us (2020)
Murray Perahia Self Self See fewer	Unbreakable (2000)
Regina Smendzianka Self Self See fewer	Journal de voyage (1961)
Kevin Kenner Actor Actor See fewer	In Search of Chopin (2014)

There was an issue loading this tab.

MOVIEmeter

Members only

Become a member to access additional data

Ratings Breakdown

Something went wrong. Try entering your rating again

1 external review & 2 more links

Contacts

Cast

MOVIEmeter

Ratings Breakdown

MAIN MENU

YOUR TOOLS

YOUR ACCOUNT

IMDbPro

Get rich industry data and stay informed

Contacts

Cast

MOVIEmeter

Ratings Breakdown

MAIN MENU

YOUR TOOLS

YOUR ACCOUNT

IMDbPro