Have you met… Evelin Glennie?

Touch the Sound (2004), directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer, is probably one of my favorite documentaries, although few have likely heard of it. As is the case with most documentaries, it received very little theatrical play. Coincidentally, Riedelsheimer also directed River and Tides, another of my favorite documentaries, which gives a similar treatment to Andrew Goldsworthy, a sculptor who works in nature with only the media that nature provides.

I tend to be drawn toward documentaries that delve into the artist’s world. There’s always so much humanity and creativity just waiting to be explored when an artist of any kind truly opens up to the camera. At a younger age, I attempted [unsuccessfully] to learn to play drums and it gave me a whole new appreciation for those who can. When I first saw this movie it blew me away. Touch the Sound follows Evelin Glennie, an incredible percussionist, who happens to be deaf. The movie follows her travels as she plays around the world and allows her to speak quite clearly on what inspires her and how she’s gotten to where she is in life. Her passion is evident as you watch her perform.

The film was released on DVD by DocuRama. I first saw the film by renting it, and ended up purchasing the DVD for my collection within a week later. I highly recommend this movie to anyone, literally. I would be surprised if anyone found it was not thoroughly enjoyable.