Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould

A truly enigmatic artist, revered Canadian pianist Glenn Gould is thoughtfully rendered in this evocative documentary by directors Michèle Hozer and Peter Raymont. The film depicts Gould's remarkable rise in the world of classical music during the 1950s, with his film-star looks and bundle of quirks accompanying his undeniably stunning playing, showcased spectacularly on his groundbreaking '55 recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. Featuring an impressive amount of video footage of Gould, Genius Within reveals that there is good reason for his reputation as an eccentric—he often wore a winter coat and knit gloves on the warmest of days and avoided shaking hands at all costs. However, rather than focus too keenly on the odd aspects of his persona, the movie allows for plenty of performance clips, which are exceptional even when brief, particularly since Gould adamantly refused concert appearances after '64, claiming audiences were inherently "evil." Gould is pensively remembered in interviews with the few who knew him well, resulting in intriguing revelations about his highly guarded personal life. Though the film leaves some threads frustratingly untied and a few scenes with a Gould stand-in are wholly unnecessary, Genius Within successfully presents many of the fascinating elements that made up this singularly talented musician.