This movie is a masterpiece, unlike anything else I've ever seen. I read Solomon Volkov's book probably 30 years ago, and as other reviewers have pointed out, the movie bears only a vague resemblance to the book. That being said, the movie holds its own firmly as a unique piece of art. Easy to watch and comprehend it is not; it certainly helps if you're familiar with Volkov's book and Shostakovich' music. If you, as I, love the music, you'll find Tony Palmer's stunning visual narrative steadily evolving along with Shostakovich' life and music. In something that's a very rare exercise for me, I plan to sit down and view this movie again very soon.
Review of Testimony
