Reportedly, Chinese prodigy-turned-superstar Lang Lang is to be the subject of a feature film. Called Journey of a Thousand Miles--also the title of Mr. Lang’s best-selling autobiography--the film will be co-produced by Wendi Murdoch, a.k.a. wife (or, possible ex-wife) of Rupert Murdoch.
Apparently, a casting call has gone out, so Lang Lang won’t be playing himself then. We’d hope, however, that he will be providing the soundtrack.
It makes sense. The Lang Lang story is an inspiration to millions of Chinese--where Steinway have even produced their first-ever piano edition named after a single performer--and his life has had its dramas. Any child leaving the Chinese provinces to make his or her way in the big city (and, eventually, another country’s big cities) will face risks, stresses, family tensions and anxiety.
At one point, as Lang Lang has said several times in interviews, he even started banging his hands on a wall to try and destroy the abilities which were also, for a while, such a burden.
And Lang Lang, himself, will surely approve of the project. He has in recent years thrown much of his energy into his International Music Foundation, devoted to the musical education of children. If a movie can get that message out to the multiplex masses, it’s likely he’d be only too delighted.
The fun questions are who will play some of his close colleagues...
Christoph Eschenbach, the great conductor who gave Lang Lang his first big break in the U.S.? It should be Sir Ben Kingsley, Classicalite says!
His close friend and collaborator Gustavo Dudamel? Gael Garcia Bernal, surely.
Or how about his regular pianistic sparring partner Herbie Hancock? (Err, one Herbie Hancock would do that one rather well.) But that said, with the types of audiences Lang Lang plays for these days, the cast list could run into the thousands.
It is hard to think of too many films about living or recent pianists. English writer Victoria Wood recently penned a BBC drama about the controversial late pianist Joyce Hatto. Behind The Candlelabra is currently bringing Liberace to our screens. And, of course, most famously, there was Scott Hicks’ marvellous David Helfgott biopic, Shine.
But none of these were pianists on the level of a Lang Lang.
Judging from the number of music orientated films that do well come Oscar time, though, if they get it right, heads could be duly turned. And you can guarantee that Journey of a Thousand Miles will be one OST well worth getting.
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