Synopsis
This Dutch documentary examines the careers of musicians who were winners at Belgium's Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels but then later dropped out of sight. Archival footage and stills are combined with interviews to trace the lives of four musicians who won -- including violinist Philipp Hirschhorn, a 1967 winner, who became ill, went into teaching, and died in 1996, shortly after being interviewed for this film. Russian fiddler Berl Senofsky, who won in 1956, also went into teaching. Filmmaker Paul Cohen explored a similar theme in his Part-time God, a study of geniuses who never lived up to their early promise. Shown at the 1997 Vancouver Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide