Dominant Seventh

I saw this film at the Taos Talking Pictures Festival. I saw it not even knowing anything about it and it blew me away! The way he used the camera, the story telling and art direction were amazing! He is someone with a very sophisticated story telling ability. I met Martin and he was completely humble and sincere. He is going revive films of the Frank Capra days. He said his next project is a feature called "Harlan Poe." Can't wait to pay my 8 bucks for that! Go Martin Nowak!

Dominant Seventh is a rare jewel of a short film -- about 25 minutes -- a story about a musically-gifted boy whose mother is gone and whose father is so consumed by his own grief over the loss of his wife that he is unable to take care of himself, much less attend to the special needs of his child prodigy. The triumph of the film is two fold -- the visuals and sounds of the film are magnificent -- I personally rate them up there with Kurosawa's and Coppola's early works! And the film never resorts to sentimentality to render its audience emotionally overwhelmed. The further treat and thrill of Dominant Seventh is that we get to share, on a very intimate level, what it feels like to be a genius musician! Dom 7 explores the world of musical creation and expression from the inside out and is absolutely successful in that regard -- I am not kidding when I tell you that I got goose-flesh right now, just thinking about one special scene where little Rocco (alone in his drab bedroom) hears the beginnings of a symphony in his head, complete with the sounds of an audience welcoming the conductor and himself, takes his violin, and begins to accompany the "symphony." It is a rare film moment -- one I will always treasure.

I saw this short film on IFC, then I caught it again on Women's Enertainmen channel. I've never cried watching a short movie before. How does someone get me involved so quickly and make me care about a boy and his father so fast? Seemed to transcend your typical musician movie. It has a complicated underlying theme that leaves me with so many questions. Where did the mother go? IS she dead? Why is the father like the way he is?

I love the scene where he asks his son to go get a newspaper AND then the delviry of the newspaper brings him the message of his demise. IT'S REALLY WELL WRITTEN THAT KEPT ME WONDERING AND ASKING QUESTIONS. THAT'S WHAT DRAMATERGY IS ALL ABOUT RIGHT. Anyway, I loved the acting RAY LASKAand the boy, had amazing chemistry. The director is very good he even wrote it and edited it too!

THE COLORIZATION SEEMED VERY EUROPEAN SOMEHOW OR FRENCH. THE LIGHTING WAS VERY NATURALISTIC. THE CINEMATOGRPAHER DID GREAT WORK TOO.

I LOVE THIS RARE GEM. I WOULD SEE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN!

Saw this film by accident at the Laemmle Sunset Theater in Hollywood. My expectations for short films? Usually very low because they are typically snap shots of life or a one-gag joke. However, this director took on the brave task of acutally telling a story with depth and great sensitivity in a classical style.

A young child prodigy violinist (played by a remarkable, young actor named Pappone)struggles for his father's attention. Meanwhile the drunken father has no appreciation for his son let alone his amazing musical talent. Nowak does a terrific job directing all his actors, not to mention the writing and editing, as the performances are as good as any I've seen come from this town.

Give yourself a treat and watch this mini gem!

As a victim of child abuse and as a person who yearns to achieve, this film touched me.

It works on so many levels from it's thought-provoking title, which means an unstable musical chord that needs resolution, to the unstable living circumstances of child prodigy, Rocko and his troubled father that needed, ached for a resolution. And that resolution unfolded from character, action and reaction in a deeply satisfying way that still brings tears to this man's eyes.

I taped it off IFC and watch it now and again when I need to experience sadness and triumph. Martin Nowak has talent. I wish there was a site with more information about Mr. Nowak and how he came to make this lovely diamond of a film.