Hawke’s first documentary is a perfect movie for a gray Sunday afternoon, a gentle and loving tribute to a man so anachronistically convinced that talent is its own reward that the film might soon serve as our only proof that people like him ever existed. A living legend without a Wikipedia page, Bernstein values his solitude the way that others might their spouse, and Hawke’s movie is a model of how to portray a man who’s at peace with himself.

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"Seymour: An Introduction" doesn't reinvent the wheel, but makes for a pleasant watch of a lovely subject in Seymour Bernstein.

57/100

A.V. Club review. Bernstein reminds me a bit of Agnès Varda—his worldview is just inherently fascinating/huggable. Hawke-the-director does not remind me of Varda, however.

So it turns out that the doc that Ben Stiller's character is working on in While We're Young is really lovely actually.

Ethan Hawke brings us a docu about Seymour Bernstein, a world-class concert pianist who gave it all up to teach lessons out of his small NYC apartment. Hawke is looking for artistic meaning, reflecting on his own career and decisions as a successful walker-of-the-limelight. But luckily he lets Bernstein take up almost the entire runtime, and the man is such a delight: quirky, funny, effortlessly wise, endearingly weird. Spending 90 minutes with Seymour was a nice way to spend my 30th birthday. I don't know if it brought me any closer to clarity about my own particular creative quagmires, but I feel like its effects are gonna be felt on a more subterranean level, perhaps further down the line...

Seymour: An Introduction is a beautiful look into a brilliant man's love for music and life. The film itself isn't anything you haven't seen before but it's a film made with real passion. Seymour Bernstein is a man who has spent his whole life contemplating what brings him joy and fulfillment here on Earth. He knows that his love is for the piano and the music he creates. But, I think his real passion at 87 years of age is showing others why this is so important to him. Seymour: An Introduction is a joyful film about a man who is still figuring out what drives him and how he can pass this love on.

I highly suggest that you watch this one, I don't think you'd regret some time spent with him.

As the title states, this is an introduction. I guess I needed one since I really had no idea who Seymour Bernstein was.

I'm not much of a classical music listener (I do enjoy certain pieces from time to time). I also have no yearning to learn piano. So I found it hard to connect to the subject. Seymour Bernstein seems like an absolutely wonderful man, who deserves the attention. But I didn't find this documentary captivating as an random onlooker. It's best suited if you have knowledge of the subject or an interest in classical music, specifically piano.

I really like Ethan Hawke, and I think Seymour Bernstein is an interesting individual, but this documentary feels pretty directionless. While the film succeeds in informing the audience, it fails to do so in a unique or engaging way.

There's something totally centering about listening to a guy who really does have it all figured out just talk about life and music for eighty-four minutes. The phenomenal piano music is a major bonus.

I’m very glad this film was made. As an amateur classical pianist, it’s always stimulating to hear the discussions that link the practice to something transcendental. I’m biased in favor of the subject matter, but I think most viewers will enjoy this generally zen tribute an artist at work.

Noticing a lot of reviewers underwhelmed by Ethan Hawke’s directing - I think he’s doing a solid service by telling the story of someone relatively off-grid who inspired him deeply. It’s not really an auteurist piece, and it’s avowedly specialized in its subject matter - it’s basically a piano master class in the form of a documentary. It’s reverent and understated, which allowed me to trust the filmmaker.

It’s quite dope.

Interesting, and I loved his playing.  I just wish Hawke had focused more on the musical treasure that he is, and not tried to paint him as some important philosophical shaman.

I love how this man made his piano idol a knight

I’ve never dreamed that with my own two hands, I could touch the sky.

Seeing people talking so passionately about what they love the most in life makes me very emotional... I just loved the spark in his eyes when he talks about his piano. What an inner world, he makes me jealous.

88개의 건반에 온 우주를 담다

Inspirational. Joyous. Philosophy. Dedication. Craft. Spirit. Gentleness. Music. Feeling. YES.

꼰대가 아닌 진짜 어른의 사려깊은 레슨.
한국전쟁 참전용사라니 더 반갑다.

The kind of movie you put on in the background while you get some work done

Honestly, the epitome of "you love to see it."

Listen to the episode of Hawkeyes where we discuss Seymour: An Introduction.

I’m very glad this film was made. As an amateur classical pianist, it’s always stimulating to hear the discussions that link the practice to something transcendental. I’m biased in favor of the subject matter, but I think most viewers will enjoy this generally zen tribute an artist at work.

Noticing a lot of reviewers underwhelmed by Ethan Hawke’s directing - I think he’s doing a solid service by telling the story of someone relatively off-grid who inspired him deeply. It’s not really an auteurist piece, and it’s avowedly specialized in its subject matter - it’s basically a piano master class in the form of a documentary. It’s reverent and understated, which allowed me to trust the filmmaker.

It’s quite dope.

It was good, very joyful. It didn't command my attention all the way through but that could be my fault. I'm not always very good at paying attention. I'm watching The Witness now!

I love that in the end Mark Ruffalo is just there, no one talks to him, you can just catch him in a quick shot. And probably more famous cultural New York icons if you look closer. But I was distracted and now my IFC is expired!

Seymour Bernstein is a great pianist and piano teacher. If you want to know more about him and his passion, watch this. 
Director Ethan Hawke was interested enough to make this tribute. 
Netflix disc
Year: 2014
Grade: B-