- Occupation
Director - Country
Germany
Jezior Christine
Why Competitions
The film focuses on the scandal following the elimination of the Croatian pianist Ivo Pogorelich who did not pass to the final round at the Chopin Piano Competition in 1980, which caused the world-famous Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich to leave the jury in protest, thanks to which Pogorelich became a star overnight. The film is divided in several chapters with each of them dealing with another competition year. The last chapter deals with the general question whether music competitions can be just and useful. Never before has such a wide range of world-famous musicians and eminent pedagogues spoken on this subject so candidly. With some ugly truths about corruption and bribery being revealed by these respectable persons, the question remains: "Why do these people often chose to remain an integral part of the international competition circuit?"
The film focuses on the scandal following the elimination of the Croatian pianist Ivo Pogorelich who did not pass to the final round at the Chopin Piano Competition in 1980, which caused the world-famous Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich to leave the jury in protest, thanks to which Pogorelich became a star overnight. The film is divided in several chapters with each of them dealing with another competition year. The last chapter deals with the general question whether music competitions can be just and useful. Never before has such a wide range of world-famous musicians and eminent pedagogues spoken on this subject so candidly. With some ugly truths about corruption and bribery being revealed by these respectable persons, the question remains: "Why do these people often chose to remain an integral part of the international competition circuit?"
Christine Jezior has been working in the classical music business for 15 years. As a former concert agent she has the necessary knowledge to direct documentary films on subjects related to classical music. She directed her first film in 2008: "I`ll Play It For You", a biopic about the legendary Polish violinist Wanda Wilkomirska, was broadcast on Polish TV eight times and went on to become on the most successful and celebrated Polish documentary films of the decade. In 2010 she finished working on "Why Competitions", which deals with the background of international music competitions. She is currently putting the finishing touches on a documentary film about the British violinist Ida Haendel.
2008 – I’ll Play It For You (original title: Ja wam to zagram) as director & writer2010 – Why Competitions (original title: Dlaczego konkurs) as director & writer2011 – Wiem skąd jestem as director & writer