THEREMIN: AN ELECTRONIC ODYSSEY (1994)
This documentary is about the history of the unusual musical instrument the theremin and the lives of the people who have most famously been involved with it including the instrument’s inventor, Leon Theremin, history’s greatest theremin virtuoso, Clara Rockmore, and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys whose “Good Vibrations” remains the only number one hit record that involves a theremin. Theremin’s story happens to be incredibly bizarre and interesting considering it involves a romance with Clara Rockmore and being kidnapped by the KGB and thought dead for decades.
This is one of my favorite documentaries for many reasons. The romance between Theremin and Rockmore is an incredible tragic romance story that takes 50 years to resolve. But it’s also a fantasy. Second, the live performance footage in this movie is some of the most beautiful ever filmed, mostly because the theremin is the most visually interesting instrument to watch someone play. It looks like magic, really, like someone casting a spell with their hands moving strangely in the air and producing the most beautiful sounds. Third, this is a wonderful movie about how unique and special things attract all kinds of weirdos who do more unique and special things. This is a movie about eccentric and truly special, magical people. It kills me.
