User Reviews

An emotional film about an emotional homeless man all accompanied with an emotional piece of music which really carries the film towards the end. Didn't quite follow the female character, but her beauty and innocence added to a very dramatic downfall of the main character.

The backdrop of the movie does a great job adding to the character of the protagonist. Being set on the red, desolate bridge defines that the main character is alone until he finds his music.

The part that sticks out to me the most is when the protagonist takes out the music and begins to see the woman, who I first perceived to be the homeless man's daughter. It's still unclear to me who she is in correlation to the homeless man, but her presence is very effective.

Overall, the film is well acted and well directed. Even though some components of the story are slightly unclear, the music by Franz Joseph Haydn is a perfect finish.

If the late Horton Foote had exercised his lyricism by writing and directing a short film without words, Der Greis might have been the result. Dialogue is neither present nor needed to imbue this lovely little piece with an other-worldly atmosphere graced only with the sounds of a lovely spring day accompanied by the music of Franz Joseph Haydn. Although director/writer Musselwhite has wisely chosen to allow the viewer to draw his or her own conclusions as to the symbolism of the protagonist's unsteady last walk, I choose to view it is a final moment of life-affirmation. We will see more of this young man's fine work and I, for one, expect great things.

The atmospheric setting and imagery of *Der Greis* -- a bridge, a breeze, a beard of gray -- enhance this meditation on mortality and the transcendent powers of art. Haydn was a compelling and effective choice -- an elegant foil to the wanderer's destitute circumstances. (Haydn's compositions often are used as background music in commercials peddling luxury items, and I could not help making that pop-culture association.) I wanted this film to go on and on, but, like life itself, it was over all too briefly before its flashes of beauty could be apprehended. They glimmered brightly and poetically for an instant, though! So I scanned the woods with greater sensitivity after viewing *Der Greis* and listened more attentively to the music around me.

This short film demonstrates great beauty and depth. As a professional classical musician, I am always a bit skeptical when I see a film that uses a master work as a predominate theme. Usually, it only captures some superficial aspect of the musical selection. Mr. Musselwhite not only has great respect for the work and the text, but he weaves it with evocative imagery which I found deeply profound. The principle role played by John Countryman, was handled with unbelievable skill and grace. The vision of the young woman (Lyndsay Ricketson) was delivered with such sincerity and beauty. I, for one, am ever changed by this short gem.