Product Details

• Actors: Philip Glass, Errol Morris, Martin Scorsese, Ravi Shankar, Chuck Close
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Koch Lorber Films
• DVD Release Date: April 21, 2009
• Run Time: 119 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001PCNZGI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,486 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

As seen on PBS American Masters

For 18 months Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award-winning director Scott Hicks (Shine) followed the legendary Philip Glass (The Hours, Notes on a Scandal) across three continents, creating a remarkable portrait of this brilliant composer. Allowed unprecedented access to Glass’ working process and collaborators (including Martin Scorsese and Errol Morris), Hicks presents a unique glimpse into the life of one of the greatest artists of this or any era.

INCLUDES OVER 3 HOURS OF EXCLUSIVE EXTRAS:
Bonus Performances (“Dracula”, “Metamorphosis”, “Orion”, “Einstein on the Beach”)
Additional Interview Footage with Philip Glass, Deleted/Extended Scenes
Commentary Track by Director Scott Hicks
Plus Booklet with Production Notes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and inspiring, May 16, 2009

By 

BJS (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts (DVD)

This is an absolutely incredible film.

It's an intimate look at the creative process and creative collaboration--and that includes the lively interaction between the filmmaker and his subjects, among whom are some of the most accomplished people in contemporary art and cinema.

It is also a visually gorgeous, beautifully edited film that includes among its subjects several Glass theatre pieces which are stunningly beautiful.

Best of all, Philip Glass turns out to be a wonderfully warm-hearted, endearing human being who has led, and continues to lead, a life that fully embraces all of life's possibilities--at the age of 70.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Case study on how to really thrive, April 17, 2009

By 

G. F. Margison "grantmargison" (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts (DVD)

Saw this amazing doco last night. Its an incisive two hour window into how one of the most iconic composers does his thriving. Some key insights:
1. If you are not upsetting someone then you're not doing your craft - Craft is about letting your uniqueness come through ;
2. Its not about contribution (though, of course, you really do);
3. The craft speaks to something that really enrichs his life
If you only use trued and true tools and techniques then thats all you will produce ;
4. "Big things" emerge - its like being under ground and hearing an underground river somewhere. Instead of directly looking for it, you do your routines and you sink in the time - the river finds you and takes you where it is going - you are the vehicle and it (for Philip the new music) was always there ;
5. It is your life - have a portfolio of activities that craddle your uniqueness - for him this is various moving meditations and exercises with different masters, family life, being a New Yorker - doing the evryday stuff and routines - With the portfolio of mediations/exercise/spiritual practices, you look for new practices that fill in gaps or open new possibilities ;
6. It is your life - surround yourself with a network of gifted very different individuals, and have regular quality time with them
7. It is your life - shape the quality of it by the environments you inhabit and move between - for him its the buzz and life of NYC, coupled to the farm wilderness type enviornment he and Holly have on the Nova Scotia coast;
8. Learn and evolve from lots of very different teachers - from the harsh formal piano mistress in Paris to the loving approach used by Ravi Shankar
When you do your craft you just make the quality time, be there, support yourself with the habits and it comes. Have lots of projects on the go at any one time
9. The craft is "communicating" - for him its through music, painters its their art - the key is how to ingest this - for music being great at "listening", visual arts through "seeing". Passive - active going on here
10. It is your life - Moving between the Nova Scotia coast and NYC environments and live "young" - His much younger wife Holly, and family life with kids under 5 - he turned seventy in 2005 but appears to live with the energy and drive of someone half his age

Oh, and yes, there is his music and projects sprinkled throughout it that really add to the tone and meaning of it...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Philips Glass DVD (2007), February 26, 2011

By 

Dr. Greg (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts (DVD)

From the excellent and critically minded reviews of this DVD, I would say that when mine arrives I am in for a geniune treat. I have studied the music and personality of Glass over the years, observed the impact of his music on my college-age students, and relished his soundtracks in recent film releases. From humble beginnings Glass emerges as one of America's prime exponents of minimalism, a late 20th century musical trend that is still fireing the minds of musicians everywhere.

DVD arrived, viewed the entire presentation. Wonderful mix of Glass's music and biographical scenes of him over an 18 month period, along with historic footage of his music-making and family situations. A complicated man whose music rises above traditional fare. You won't be disappointed in this DVD investment.