On the occasion of Penderecki's 80th birthday in 2013, this film portrays the artist with a comprehensive 'work in progress' documentary: despite his growing age, Penderecki is still an unflinching and active composer and conductor.
For one year, the author Anna Schmidt studyied this world-famous artist, speaking also with high-carat companions: Anne-Sophie Mutter, Julian Rachlin and Janine Jansen, Johnny Greenwood ("Radiohead") and Andrzej Wajda. The film follows Penderecki from Krakow to Munich, from Vienna to Leipzig, and on various occasions to his country estate in Luslawice. And throughout, the composer reflects on the meteoric beginning to his career, unexpected turning points in his life and ingenious ideas.
Thoughts, dialogues, extracts from his music and film scores, encounters and the natural world all condense to create a fascinating, multi-layered portrait including very rare archive material.
Bonus: Interviews with Lorin Maazel and Jonny Greenwood from "Radiohead"
