The life and music of Dmitry Shostakovich, full of a staggering clash of conflict, artistic heights, tragic and happy coincidences, spanned almost the entire twentieth century. The nine chapters of this documentary film are framed by nine days of the last round-trip journey of the composer's life: a trip on a Soviet ocean liner to the United States. It was a glorious propaganda voyage, a floating city, offering shuffleboard tournaments, balalaika lessons, beauty contests, a shipboard newspaper, and a cinema showing films with scores by Shostakovich, all highlighting achievements of socialism. The Soviet government expected that the mere presence of the world-renowned composer would assist in its attempt to improve its image overseas. The film is narrated primarily in words of Shostakovich's letters and diaries, which sharply contrast with the propaganda movies shown on board the ship, as the twentieth century itself weaves myth and reality. Never-before-seen archival fragments of the composer's life--newsreel footage, photographs, letters, and personal memoirs--provide a unique perspective on issues of the artist versus the state, and truth versus survival. In contrasting official truth with personal truth, the film offers insight into the mystery of how Shostakovich was able to penetrate, through his music, the ironclad curtain and deeply affect Western audiences. Shostakovich's music, full of dark sarcasm and glory, lyricism and sorrow, laughter and melancholy, plays the leading part throughout the film.

Forms: Documentary
Genres: Independent, Culture