- published: 07 Jan 2016
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Testimony: The Story of Shostakovich is a 1987 British musical drama film directed by Tony Palmer and starring Ben Kingsley, Sherry Baines and Robert Stephens. The film is based on the memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975) as dictated in the book Testimony (edited by Solomon Volkov, ISBN 0-87910-021-4) and filmed in Panavision. Some consider the book to be a fabrication.
"A masterpiece...exceptional; an undoubted hit" - The Sunday Times
"The best British film of the year" - Films and Filming
"Exciting and deeply moving piece of cinema" - The Independent
"Testimony is one of those comparatively rare events nowadays – a real piece of cinema. Palmer's prowess as an editor, his knack of juxtaposing image and music – something which has remained his forte since he first caused a stir back in the sixties with Buddhist monks burning to The Beatles – has a field day in Testimony. Most importantly for a movie about a composer, there is always the feeling that Palmer understands the music. For a start, he puts to rest the hoary old cliché that the private Shostakovich is only to be found in his chamber music – try listening to the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Fourteenth symphonies – but he also brings vividly alive musical details (like the composer's use of unison scoring) in colour sequences showing the orchestra, as in the climax of the Fifth ... a truly remarkable film." - Derek Elley 'Films and Filming'
A man records a video 'testimony' of recent events. Invited by his friend and former boss, Alex to a BBQ, the former photographer is introduced to Alex's newest 'employee', a beautiful Russian called Karina. Becoming lost in his own fantasies about her, the man corners the wannabe model and offers his services as a photographer who can help her get a cheap portfolio together. Karina agrees to be 'shot' by the man. During the shoot the man tries to get physically intimate with Karina. Leaving the shoot, Karina confides to Alex what happened. Alex confronts the man at his studio. Consumed by jealousy and paranoia the man kills Alex. Cleaning away the evidence the man then records his testimony before leaving to confront Karina...
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