Shut Up and Play the Piano
Synopsis
The documentary follows Chilly Gonzales from his native Canada to late '90s underground Berlin, and via Paris to the world's great philharmonic halls. Diving deep into the dichotomy of Gonzales' stage persona, where self-doubt and megalomania are just two sides of the same coin. The playfulness of his character is mirrored in the look of the film. Using Gonzales' extensive video archive in a rather unorthodox manner... Reality and fiction blur together as we embark on a trip through Chilly Gonzales' world.
Official Selection Berlinale 2018 - Panorama Dokumente - World premiere
Details
- Year
- 2018
- Type of project
- Features
- Running time
- 82 mins
- Format
- Cinemascope
- Director
-
Philipp Jedicke 1st Feature
- Producer
- Stephan Holl, Antoinette Köster
- Co-Producer
- Chilly Gonzales, Melinda Cody
- Editor
- Henrik Drees, Carina Mergens
- Screenwriter
- Philipp Jedicke
- Director of Photography
- Marcus Winterbauer, Marcel Kolvenbach
- Sound
- Ralf Weber; Sound Designer and Re-recording Mixer: Andreas Hildebrandt
- Principal cast
- With appearances and performances by: Chilly Gonzales, Kaiser Quartett, Joe Flory, Sibylle Berg, Adam Traynor, Peaches, Leslie Feist, Raz Ohara, Paul PM aka Mr. Maloke, Raik Hölzel, Renaud Letang, Cornelius Meister, Jarvis Cocker
Categories
Production Status
Production Company
Germany, France, UK coproduction
Rapid Eye Movies (DE), Gentle Threat (UK)
Gentle Threat
Melinda CodySales Company
Charades
Nicolas Rebeschini4 rue Manuel
75009 Paris
France
Page updates
This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.
See also
You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.
Forgotten Spaceman
Director: Elham Ehsas
Year: 2026
In 1988, Afghanistan sent its only astronaut into space, a journey that proved home can be farther than the stars. Official selection Locarno Film Festival 2026
I Heard That They Are Not Going To See Each Other Anymore
Director: Ka Ki Wong
Year: 2026
In present-day Taipei, Tao develops unexplainable affectionate feelings for Shin, an indifferent guy. Desperate to create lasting memories, she sends people to beat him up, using pain as a twisted form of connection. Meanwhile, Melih, having left Istanbul for Taipei, owns a noodle shop. One night, he receives an unexpected flower from the perpetually drunk Ping. Melih begins to stare into the flower from time to time, experiencing the tale of Tao and Shin and revealing his own unspoken desire and failed attempts to connect with Ping. As Melih digs deeper into the tale, he confronts his struggles to form meaningful relationships. His struggle gradually mirrors Tao’s struggle with Shin. As Tao grows closer to Shin, Shin vanishes, leaving Tao to realize that these recollections, retained only by her, might be mere figments of imagination. Tao’s tale then makes Melih question if it’s better to forget everything, as he contemplates whether letting go of solitary memories might finally bring him peace. Official selection CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Festival 2026 - Next:Wave Competition (World Premiere)
Adlais
Director: Alex Darby, George Leith, Sophie Mei Birkin
Year: 2026
Adlais (Echo) weaves Welsh language folklore and histories through their shared subjects of poetry and drowning – and asks whether we’re listening to the past as it surfaces today.