Educational Media Reviews Online

This lighthearted and sincere doc details the efforts of musicians in Brisbane, Australia, to present a live performance of the colossal Gothic Symphony. Written over a period of eight years by obscure British composer Havergal Brian, the Gothic had only been performed four times in its nearly 90-year existence because it calls for 180-200 instrumentalists, 400 choristers, four brass bands, and a children’s chorus, it is a technically challenging piece, and it clocks in at over two hours long. It is rumored to be cursed because of the many failed attempts to present it in public. For 28 years it has been the dream of Gary Thorpe, manager of Brisbane’s classical music radio station and a member of the Havergal Brian Society, to have the work performed. He and filmmaker Veronica Fury (also the producer of this doc) seem to encounter every possible obstacle the curse can throw at them—poor timing for area festivals, overly-committed performers who have conflicting engagements, lack of financial support or options for a suitable venue, under-rehearsed choristers—yet they persevere for the seven years over which this doc is shot to successfully perform the Gothic Symphony in 2011. Perhaps the most notable quality of the film and its characters is the level of honesty they share with the viewer: they are very transparent about the frustrations they encountered, that they considered quitting at times, how little sleep they got on some nights. But it all seemed very much worth their efforts in the end.

The video effects are very eccentric in terms of both decision and technique. Intentionally over-the-top animated introduction and interludes—complete with werewolf howls, a haunted mansion, and plenty of lightning—set the laid back, almost comic mood for film. And during the footage of the actual performance of the Gothic, the change in shots from conductor to instrumentalists to choristers to audience was so rapid I began to feel ill. There are interviews with Olga Pringle, Brian’s daughter, that provide us with a more detailed idea of his personality, as well as a number of pleasant interviews with Scot Malcolm MacDonald—a writer on Brian’s music and also a member of the fan club—who flew to Brisbane for the performance. We also see BBC video footage of Brian, with actor voiceover speaking on his behalf: “I haven’t failed. I wrote my works and did my bit. It’s for others to play them. That’s their part.” This was an enjoyable film.

Awards

• Australia Writers Guild Awards Documentary Winner
• Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, Nominated for Best Feature Documentary