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Shut Up and Play the Piano

Panorama Dokumente 2018
© Rapid Eye Movies / Gentle Threat
‘One of these days I will shut up and play the piano’ is how the chorus goes in the song which provides the title of this cinematic portrait of eclectic musician Chilly Gonzales. In fact, after making a name for himself as a brazen electro-rapper, this Canadian, whose real name is Jason Charles Beck, really did reinvent himself as a creator of quiet sounds on the piano. In 2003, this self-styled maverick loudly declared himself president of Berlin’s underground music scene, only to conquer bourgeois concert halls shortly afterwards with his tranquil album, ‘Solo Piano’. An extended conversation between him and writer Sibylle Berg is the thread that runs through the film. No holds are barred as they get down to the business of question and answer, and each of them gives as good as they get. In his directing debut, Philipp Jedicke displays a lightness of touch as he blends archive material with playfully dramatised scenes and interviews with the musician’s contemporaries such as Peaches, Leslie Feist and Jarvis Cocker. Rounded off by Gonzales’ energetic performances, the film allows us to discover a hard-working entertainer who never fails to surprise.
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by Philipp Jedicke
with Chilly Gonzales, Peaches, Leslie Feist, Sibylle Berg, Jarvis Cocker, Kaiser Quartett, Joe Flory, Adam Traynor, Paul PM aka Mr. Maloke (Puppetmastaz), Raik Hölzel, Raz Ohara, Renaud Letang, Kleber Valim, Lena Buhl, Cornelius Meister Germany / United Kingdom 2018 English, French, German 82’ Colour World premiere | Documentary form

With

  • Chilly Gonzales
  • Peaches
  • Leslie Feist
  • Sibylle Berg
  • Jarvis Cocker
  • Kaiser Quartett
  • Joe Flory
  • Adam Traynor
  • Paul PM aka Mr. Maloke (Puppetmastaz)
  • Raik Hölzel
  • Raz Ohara
  • Renaud Letang
  • Kleber Valim
  • Lena Buhl
  • Cornelius Meister

Crew

Written and Directed by Philipp Jedicke
Cinematography Marcus Winterbauer, Marcel Kolvenbach
Dramaturgy Henk Drees
Editing Henk Drees, Carina Mergens
Music Chilly Gonzales
Sound Ralf Weber
Producers Stephan Holl, Antoinette Köster
Co-Producers Chilly Gonzales, Melinda Cody
Co-Production Gentle Threat London

World Sales

Charades

http://www.charades.eu http://www.charades.eu

Produced by

Rapid Eye Movies

Photos

Philipp Jedicke

Born in Kehl, Germany in 1977, he has lived in Canada and France and is currently based in Cologne. He works as a freelance journalist and post-production manager for various television stations, film production companies, newspapers, magazines and websites. Focusing mainly on music and culture, his work has featured on TV channels including WDR, ARTE, Deutsche Welle, SWR as well as in the Süddeutsche Zeitung German newspaper. Shut Up and Play the Piano is his directing debut.

Filmography

2018 Shut Up and Play The Piano

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019