Tripping with Nils Frahm

Benoit Toulemonde's 2020 documentary records a concert by the German composer Nils Frahm at the Funkhaus in Berlin. There is no commentary and no interview; the film consists entirely of the performance, with Frahm moving among pianos, organ and analogue devices on stage. What makes it interesting is showing how the music is built: a loop is started, a layer added, and the piece grows in front of the audience. The Funkhaus was East Germany's radio building and its acoustics are part of the film. The images are plain and the cutting sparse. It works well as an entry point for anyone who does not know Frahm's music. Who it's for: viewers who like contemporary instrumental music and concert films. Who it's not for: anyone wanting a documentary narrative, or impatient with long instrumental pieces.