Film

‘Seymour’ introduces a remarkable man

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Three stars

Seymour: An Introduction Directed by Ethan Hawke. Rated PG. Opens Friday.

Seymour: An Introduction borrows its title from a famous short story, but the subject of Ethan Hawke’s documentary, Seymour Bernstein, is considerably less tortured than was J.D. Salinger’s fictional Seymour Glass. Hawke was seated next to Bernstein, a semi-retired concert pianist and still-active piano teacher, at a dinner party a few years ago, and found him such an inspiring figure that he wanted to share him with the world. The movie builds to Bernstein’s triumphant return to performing in April 2012, but it’s mostly just content to listen to him discuss his philosophy about life, art and the intersection between the two.

Arriving in theaters not long after Whiplash, Seymour provides a refreshing counterpoint to J.K. Simmons’ abusive music instructor, with Bernstein demonstrating a method composed of equal parts affection and firmness. He’s such a charismatic camera subject, in fact, that there’s no need for all the testimonials that Hawke includes; after a while, the parade of students past and present (including New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman) singing Bernstein’s praises gets a bit wearisome. The film also lacks a coherent structure or rhythm as cinema. But any time in such good company can’t be said to have been poorly spent.

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