3/5 We want something else
  by MG
I join the many people here that really would like to see the Reichenbach film about Arthur Rubinstein on DVD.

This one is nice but too short and somehow not really thrilling. Whenever Rubinstein appears there is a glimpse of his fascinating personality. I'm not sure if it was a good idea to celebrate his father with a second class performance of Chopin's second concerto. Somehow this film turns out more as a film about a son-of-a-famous-father trauma than about the artist Arthur Rubinstein.

3/5 "Rubinstein: Love of Life" IS available!!
  by Vinteuil
If you check out eBay right now (Oct 7, 2009) you'll see that there's a 16 mm print of "Arthur Rubinstein: Love of Life" for sale right now. This movie still hasn't been released on DVD and no one seems to know when exactly that might happen, mostly because no one really knows who owns the rights!

3/5 More Artur, less John ... the "balance" issue.
  by Anthony J. Lomenzo (Fort Ann, New York)
This DVD could very well have been named, "Artur Rubinstein Remembered, John Rubinstein Featured." Whew! I note one reviewer simply cut to the chase and stated the obvious, to wit, "John, please shut-up!" Clearly, it could be argued, I suppose, that the son was merely highlighting the father but when John does his Polish orchestra conducting debut and the only reference to the father is a bronze bust of the man, well, certainly there existed more footage of Artur Rubinstein available in literally miles of film where Artur could have provided more commentary then that which was included in the DVD. BTW, it is "Artur", not "Arthur" but never 'Art' or 'Arty' which would be akin to referring to St. John the Baptist as 'Jack.'

The consensus seems to be a call for more of the 1969 "Artur Rubinstein: L'Amour de la vie" [the love of life] film and, well, to put it bluntly, more Artur, less John. I agree. Recall the clip tho' in this DVD where Artur recalls visiting the famous "throat doctor" and Artur dramatizes the thing a la "Doctor, please tell me, what is it [* he had lost his voice], I can deal with it whatever it is, tell me ... " and the punch-line delivered by Rubinstein mimicking the doctor on the "diagnosis" is, "You talk too much!" Perhaps John should have reflected on his father's story a bit more!

Artur Rubinstein had a marvelous sense of humor yet clips abound of him not simply playing but commenting on all manner of issues and this would have been, in my opinion, a better focus of the DVD. The man himself. But remembered through his own words and manner of audience interaction whether through the keys of the piano or armchair conversation.

The focus seemed to shift between the man 'remembered' to a focus of his son John Rubinstein getting prepped for his conducting gig with the elder Rubinstein as mere onlooker from the Vale as it were. That's fine IF the title was "The Rubinsteins" ... but it was not.

Don't misinterpret now, certainly the family would have various comments to make and this is most welcomed but then there is the matter of a 'balance' which becomes rather cogent especially when the title suggests the singular Rubinstein versus the plural.

BTW, speaking of Rubinstein, I would also recommend the 74 minute DVD "Artur Rubinstein: Historic Film of Rubinstein in Performance" [Kultur] and available on Amazon and Amazon vendors where there is Artur doing the classic pieces of Chopin plus Mendelssohn and Liszt plus the concluding segment featuring Artur with two very good friends and musical colleagues both commenting and playing [with some light-hearted banter as well], Jascha Heifetz and Gregor Piatigorsky doing a rehearsal in Rubinstein's home. Memorable in every way.

Doc Tony

3/5 Another plea for "Love of Life"
  by Osaggie (New York, NY)
Yes, this documentary is valuable to Rubinstein lovers, but not even close to the movie I saw in 1970: "Love of Life." It is unforgettable, and a must have for anyone who is a devotee of the man and artist.

5/5 Rubinstein /Love of life
  by F. Davies (Barnet, Herts UK)
I too have been hoping for a video or DVD of this film. I saw it twice at the Royal Festival Hall, London when it was first released, but have not been able to see it anywhere else. It has not been on TV in the UK as far as I know. Please will someone bring out a DVD soon.
Fay Davies