DVD Corner

Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould Criterion 4K UHD Review

“Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould” is a unique approach to a biopic.  

Written by François Girard and Don McKellar, 1993’s “Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould” is a biopic anthology film about the life of late Canadian pianist Glenn Gould. As the title suggests, the film is composed of 32 segments about Gould which feature tidbits about his parents, love of nature, his obsession with recorded music, the radio programs he worked on, his passion for phone calls and phone interviews, his final concert before he gave up performing live, his obsession with his health, his music compositions, and more. To tell these tales, actor Colm Feore portrays Gould. ‘Thirty Two’ can also be seen as a partial documentary as several segments feature interviews with people who met or knew him (including his cousin). There’s even an animated sequence thrown in here.

It’s always fascinating to see how filmmakers approach a biopic. So many of them nowadays feel rather cookie cutter and stale. Back in 1993, director François Girard really went against the grain to tell an artistic and ultimately insightful look into the life of the eccentric musician Glenn Gould. Watching this film is like watching a puzzle being put together with the pieces essentially being each of the segments. When the film wraps, you get more of a clear understanding of who Gould really was (as much as anyone can really know a person that is). Yes, the child prodigy and gifted musician was still a bit of a reclusive enigma, but you certainly learn more about him through the scripted stories and the personal interviews to be sure. 

Given that Gould is a musician, it’s nice to see his works presented throughout the entire film. Gould’s impressive piano pieces often play in the background and musicians even perform one of his compositions in a segment. Several Bach tracks are also included as his work was integral to Gould’s life and career as you will discover. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 2160p. How does it look? The 4K digital restoration does wonders for this film by providing a crisp and clear new transfer.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Gould’s music sounds positively enchanting with this dynamic 5.1 track. 

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* A new commentary by François Girard and writer/actor Don McKellar (on the 4K and Blu-ray).
* Trailer
* A poster/booklet with an essay by Michael Koresky
* Archival interviews with actor Colm Feore (from 2012) and producer Niv Fichman (from 2008).
* 2 1959 documentary films about Glenn Gould titled “Glen Gould: Off The Record” and “Glenn Gould: On The Record.” It’s particularly interesting to watch these after ‘32 Short Films’ to see footage of the real man.
* A newly recorded conversation between François Girard and director Atom Egoyan that covers Canada, Glenn Gould, filmmaking, production stories, and more.

June 23, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | 90's Film, Criterion Collection, Glenn Gould, Pianist, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould Criterion 4K UHD Review