The Audi festival of German Films has just kicked off. Having just seen the trailer of As time goes by in Shanghai, this looks like a great feel good movie that will have resonance, not only for fans of jazz music, but for anyone interested in life.
Reminiscent of the documentary The Buena Vista Social Club, (This documentary is about a band where all of the members are at least 80 years of age.) This film follows the Peace Old Jazz Band’s performances in China as well as their preparation for special appearances at the biggest jazz music festival in the Netherlands.
Each of the group members is interviewed, highlighting their long-term commitment to their music and the group. It is worth noting that they are listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the band with the oldest surviving members. They formed in 1980 and have played countless venues and events, always with the same wit and commitment to their music.
Check out the clip and you can see why I think its a must see. Its screening in both Sydney and Melbourne. In Sydney we have a performance by trombonist James Greening prior to the screening.
ULI GAULKE was born in 1968 and studied at the Konrad Wolf Academy of Film & Television in Babelsberg. In 1997, his documentary Quién es el Último —Who Is Last In Line toured the world’s festivals, winning numerous awards. His other films include Mr Kuehn and his Art (Herr Kuehn und die Kunst, 1998), Heinz Mewius (1999), Havanna, Mi Amor (2001) which won a German Film Award for Best Documentary 2001 and Gladis (2003, in co-direction with Jeanette Eggert).
Screening in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday 30 March
As Time Goes By In Shanghai | As Time Goes By In Shanghai (MA 15+)
MUSIC, DOCUMENTARY | 2013 | 90 MINUTES
SCREENING IN: SYDNEY, MELBOURNE
DIRECTOR Uli Gaulke
SCREENPLAY Uli Gaulke, Jeannette Eggert
CAST Jibin Sun, Zhengzhen Bao, Jingyu Zhang, Mingkang Li, Honglin Gao, Mengqiang Lu, Xiao Xueziang, Quinty Wu, Jasmine Chen
FESTIVALS Shanghai 2013, IDFA 2013, Margaret Mead Film Festival 2013, Hot-Docs Festival Toronto 2013
Presented as part of the Audi Festival of German Films, 2014 by the Goethe-Institut Australien
