Bach At The Pagoda
Bach in der Pagode
Bach à la Pagode
Bach nella Pagoda
Switzerland, March 1997
FILM,
Documentary,
61 min.
- directed by
- Georges Gachot
- Written by
- Georges Gachot
- Status
- In distribution
- Website
- www.gachot.ch
In the midst of the Cambodian countryside, not far from Phnom Penh is a pagoda, from which one can hear the sound of a cello playing music by J.S. Bach. The “culture shock” of hearing such eminently European music in such an unmistakably Asian setting is all the greater when it turns out that the performer is a Swiss paediatrician, Beat Richner, a man who has given up everything in order to care for Cambodia’s sick children. Alone with his cello in this place of worship in the depths of Asia, Dr. Richner addresses an appeal to the entire world. Cambodia needs help. The music expresses the distress he feels when he thinks of the many children, sick and dying, for whom this very poor country can no longer afford to provide care. But rather than despair, the doctor has acted. Since 1991 he has built two hospitals, and each day these are able to assist thousands of destitute children. This encounter with an unusual physician who uses his musical gifts to collect money for his own humanitarian projects, is also an opportunity for discovering the Cambodia of today, a nation that is once again trying to raise its head, with some difficulty.
credits
- World Premiere
- March 1997
- Original Version
- French, English, Khmer, German (french/german subtitles), colour, Beta SP, 61 min.
- Production
- Gachot Films
- Producer
- Georges Gachot
- directed by
- Georges Gachot
- Written by
- Georges Gachot
- Editing
- Ruth Schläpfer
- Sound Design
- Jürg von Allmen
- Re-Recording Mix
- Jürg von Allmen
- Location Sound Mix
- Dieter Meyer
World Sales / World Rights
- World Sales
- Idéale Audience
Festivals
(a selection)
-
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Int. Film Festival
04.03.1999 - 14.03.1999 -
Internationales Festival für Musik und Film
07.03.1998 - 14.03.1998