The Pärt Feeling – The Universe of Arvo Pärt (2019)

Directed by: Paul Hegeman | 75 minutes | documentary, music

Arvo Pärt (Latvia, 1935): Whether you know his name or not, chances are you are familiar with his work in some form. The list of films and TV series in which this composer’s music has been used is still growing steadily. Movies like ‘There Will Be Blood’, ‘La grande bellezza’ and ‘About Time’ for example, TV series “The Good Place” and “The Young Pope”, but also less obvious titles like ‘Movie 43’ and ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ uses music by Pärt. Director Terrence Malick is also a regular and big fan (‘The Thin Red Line’, ‘To the Wonder’, ‘Knight of Cups’, ‘Voyage of Time’, ‘Song to Song’, ‘A Hidden Life’). The striking thing is that both Terrence Malick and Arvo Pärt both live quite withdrawn. They give little to no interviews. It is not so strange and wonderful that filmmaker Paul Hegeman wanted to make a documentary about Arvo Pärt that he managed to get the man in front of the camera in ‘The Pärt feeling – The universe of Arvo Pärt’. But even more, this 75-minute documentary is a tribute to the talent and music of the German-based composer.

Hegeman interviewed a large number of people who, because of their work in the dance world, film industry or music, are in the fortunate position to come into contact with the work of Arvo Pärt. For example, we hear how Alain Gomis, director of ‘Félicité’ (2017), faced the challenge of having a Congolese symphony orchestra perform Pärts Fratres. “His music is not overtly dramatic, but offers a direction. It doesn’t describe what you see, but it does make you feel.” Canadian musician Kara-Lis Coverdale’s face lights up when she talks about Pärt. “His music is almost mathematical, it’s as if it was made by an architect, so many angles, arcs…” Her enthusiasm is contagious, but that is actually not necessary, because Hegeman also includes sufficient image and sound material from performing artists in his documentary , so that you can experience for yourself what his music does to you. The ballet dancers by choreographer Jiri Kylián, who dance to Pärt’s music, are also beautiful. The expression of these beautiful dancers fits perfectly with the sacred music.

The personal touch is provided by Tõnu Kaljuste, Pärt’s friend and neighbor in Tallinn, and also conductor. We learn that Pärt has absolutely no interest in matter, which also does not fit the image of a genius hermit. At the very end you still get a real picture of the man; as he leads rehearsal of the Cello Octet Amsterdam. His hands folded behind his ears, in supreme concentration and with the applause, he does the opposite somewhat shyly. It’s an endearing moment, and Pärt then shows his modesty again when a group photo has to be taken and he comes to the students instead of the other way around. You don’t really need to know much more about this great artist.