Chopin takes off: The Flying Machine

When it comes to cinematic events, the life of Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) has always been an abundant source to storytellers. A Song To Remember (1945), the 1975 Ken Russell film Lisztomania, and Impromptu (1991 – with Hugh Grant as Chopin) are three of the better known movies. Although Chopin’s relationship with French novelist George Sand may have been the main inspiration, it’s also the music and the lasting influence of the composer that keeps fascinating people.

Chopin’s works have been used on rather sad occasions like the Funeral March at John F. Kennedy’s state funeral, and for uplifting events alike. One of the latter is set to be a one-off film event in celebration of Chopin’s 200th Anniversary at the Royal Festival Hall in London on February 12th & 13th. It seems to be more the happening of a film rather than its screening.

The Flying Machine is the first 3-D film to be premiered inside a concert hall, and also the first film to combine live action and stop-motion in 3-D – and not least has the first 3-D sequence in a feature where the audience is inside a painting.

Set to Chopin’s Études, the The Flying Machine centres around Anna and her little cousin Chip Chip who must take to the skies in an Flying Machine to travel home, criss-crossing the world and experiencing a series of adventures along the way, with Heather Graham (Drugstore Cowboy, From Hell) playing the mother-of-two Georgie. The soundtrack is performed live by star pianist Lang Lang.

The event combines animation, music and live action in a way not seen since Disney’s Marry Poppins or Bedknobs And Broomsticks, both of which have become timeless classics. Producer Hugh Welchman (Breakthru Films):

Not unlikely that London and Warsaw based producer Breakthru Films deliver another spellbinding film event. Their animation Peter & The Wolf became the longest film to win an Academy Award as Best Animated Short in 2008, and considering that The Flying Machine was shot in 3-D (and not converted afterwards), the event and the movie itself could become a timeless classic, too.

If you don’t have the chance to see it live, the feature will air on Sky 3D in May 2011 – hopefully with a DVD or Blu-ray release to follow later.

Jonahh Oestreich

One of the Editors in Chief and our webmaster, Jonahh has been working in the media industry for over 20 years, mainly in television, design and art. As a boy, he made his first short film with an 8mm camera and the help of his father. His obsession with (moving) images and stories hasn’t faded since.

You can follow Jonahh on Twitter @Jonahh_O.

Features

WRITE FOR STATIC MASS!

If you are passionate not only about watching movies but also about writing, we would love to hear from you!

Please get in touch and let us know whether you have a favorite genre, an interest for example in World Cinema, and how often you could write reviews and/or features for us.

You can as well send us your features and reviews right away. We look forward to receiving articles between 700 and 1,500 words, submitted as a Word document.

You can find more information here.

Please also read our Terms & Conditions.

— Founder & Editor in Chief —
Patrick Samuel

— Editor in Chief & Webmaster —
Jonahh Oestreich

— Contributing Editors —
Arpad Lukacs • Ben Nicholson
John Bleasdale • Paul Bullock
Paul Costello

— Authors & Correspondents —
Alison Devlin • Andrew Latimer
Barbara Diril • Ben Cook
Colin Williamson • Dipesh Parmar
Ian Roberts • Jack Murphy
James Arden • Jamie Suckley
Kyle Barrett • Max Lalanne
Nandini Godara • Pete Turner
Richa Rudola • Robert Bright
Rohan Mohmand • Thomas Grieve

— Guest Writers —
Danny Byrne • Joaquin Villalobos
Lauren Mannion • Lesley Coffin
Lito Velasco • Mark Patton
Norman Buckley • Toby C Prior
Tyson James Yates • V.Venkateshwaran

STAY IN TOUCH!

Static Mass Emporium is a UK-based independent film journal which looks at a broad range of work from the industry.

With research grounded in modern cinema, film theory, sociology, history and filmosophy, our approach is to explore the essence of film.

We are a nonprofit publication free of advertising — sustained entirely by its readers, fans and supporters. Read more about us here.