Freitag 31.5. 16.30 Uhr with Q&A with the director Ville Tanttu

This film tells the story of David Rothenberg's efforts to gather together an international band of musicians to cross the species line and make music live with nightingales. Because of its spacious parks and the large number of enthusiastically singing birds, Berlin is the best city to make music with nightingales. Almost everything one plays to a nightingale will encourage him to sing more. These encounters becomes a direct window into the unknown, a touch of communication with a being with whom we cannot speak. The play of pure tones jarring against click and buzz, it all becomes not a code but a groove, an amphitheater of rhythms in which we strive to find a place.

One of the most beautiful things about this project is to film and record a musician who first encounters a nightingale song, with no preconceptions. These are truly amazing moments. The film features musical luminaries from many countries who gather in Berlin, including Cymin Samawatie from Iran, Benedicte Maurseth from Norway, Wassim Mukdad from Syria, Lembe Lokk from Estonia, and Berlin-based scientists Dietmar Todt and Tina Roeske.

Q&A after the film with the director

Nightingales in Berlin t e a s e r from Ville Tanttu on Vimeo.