Exhaling Music | Digging Deeper

Exhaling Music 
Documentary (Video On Demand)

Exhaling Music tells of Beppe's intense and life-threatening breach with religion when he was 17.

His childhood religion could never follow him into adulthood. Award-winning documentary featuring composer Flint Juventino Beppe.

Surrounded by secrecy, the Rognan-composer Flint Juventino Beppe, 36, has captured the heart and minds of the international music scene. The self-taught composer is on first name terms with stars such as Sir James Galway and Vladimir Ashkenazy. "I never compose music", Beppe says, "the tones just float around inside my head. When they get too loud, I have to breathe them out." This film is a story about a personal war, and about finally recapturing the love for music and life.

Trond Eliassen, 2009, Documentary, 56 min. Produced by News on Request AS.

Rent or Buy: Video On Demand

Cat. No. FJB VOD 1503

Press Kit

Running time: 57 minutes. Cinema release: 2010. VOD release: 2015.

  Deutsche Version

Flint Juventino Beppe

From the movie Exhaling Music. Vladimir Ashkenazy and Flint Juventino Beppe. Flint Juventino Beppe and director Trond Eliassen.
Photo: News on Request AS.

— Exhaling music is an award-winning documentary featuring Flint Juventino Beppe who has captured the heart and minds of the international music scene. This 56 minute documentary made in 2009, in Norwegian and English with English subtitles, was produced by News on Request AS and directed by Trond Eliassen. It features such internationally renowned artists as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Emily Beynon and James Galway and charts Beppe's career from the first piano solos that he sent to Ashkenazy through to the rehearsals with the great conductor.

There are many insights into the composer and his connection with nature. 'I never compose music', Beppe says, 'the tones just float around inside my head. When they get too loud, I have to breathe them out.' This insightful, often compelling film tells of Beppe's traumatic loss of Christian faith at the age of seventeen and his fight to express himself, which he achieved through music. His breakthrough came with Flute Mystery, the subject of the recording sessions featured on this film. Emily Beynon talks of her enjoyment working with the composer and the Chairman of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Alistair McKay, speaks of Beppe's unique voice.  Ashkenazy talks of the development of Beppe's music from the early works that he received from the composer and of the honesty of his music.

This documentary also reveals some of the creative process between Ashkenazy and Beppe during recording sessions and the stresses of recording, particularly when Ashkenazy falls sick and the composer, who has never conducted an orchestra before, successfully takes over.

Above all it is Flint Juventino Beppe's innate modesty and sheer natural musicianship that shines through.
The Classical Reviewer

Awards & Nominations

European Film Festival, 2010, Official selection

Tromsø International Film Festival, Norway

The Tromsø Palm 2010, Winner

Gullruten 2011 (Golden Frame 2011), Nominated

DocUtah International Film Festival, US, Raven Statuette 2010, Winner

Park City Film Music Festival, US, Silver Medal of Excellence 2010, Winner

Mexico International Film Festival, Silver Palm 2010, Winner

Northern Character Film Festival, Russia, 1st price diploma 2010, Winner

International Filmmaker Festival, UK, Nominated Best Soundtrack 2010, Official selection

DocMiami Intl. Film Festival, US, 2010, Official selection

Polar Film Festival, Finland, 2010, Official selection

Dawson City Intl. Short Film Festival, Canada, 2010, Official selection

«Gullruten» (the Norwegian equivalent to the Emmy's) is a yearly award show that celebrates the Norwegian TV industry. The award was founded by the Norwegian Film and TV producers' association in 1998. The nomination and jury selection is governed by the «Gullruten» committee consisting of members from the Norwegian film and TV producers' association and the Norwegian TV channels TV2, TVNorge, TV3 and NRK.

Click the film poster for a standalone high resolution version.