“Breaking Out” is centered around a tumultuous piano improvisation David Glass recorded several years ago. The short film is a psychological rollercoaster containing a variety of footage that express a wide range of intense emotions and strong forces of nature, and yet there is a beauty to the chaos. As in a ballet, the music is in synchronicity with the dramatic scenes.
Review by Julie Sheppard:
Breaking Out is a riveting short – – it is a cross between startling imagery and brilliant solo piano improvisation by David Glass.
Beginning somewhat slowly, it takes precious little time for the piano to go from “0 to 60” in pace and intensity. The visual imagery follows a similar trajectory. Before you know it, the screen is filled with immense billows of fast-moving smoke, and other images surging toward the viewer. Speed is also present with a scene of a frantic sex act.
David Glass is obviously an accomplished pianist. His nimble fingers seem to attack the keys with both delicacy and ferocity. Although the end credit lists the piano as “improvisation”, the clever link between the piano and the visuals seems well rehearsed and contemplated. Many of the images are quite nightmarish, in perfect synch with the fierceness of the piano, notably the scenes of humans fighting viciously, a fierce lion attacking his prey, a tornado destroying a house, and faces screaming in fear.
The film successfully startles the viewer into reflecting on the frustrations of life and the common human need, once in a while, to break out.
Festival Reviews 