BEHIND THE STRINGS
USA, 2020, 59 min
Director: Hal Rifken
Producer: Michael Peroff
Editor: Tracy Cring
Cinematographer: Hal Rifken
When Mao’s Cultural Revolution ended, China’s door cracked open. Four young, classically trained musicians seized the opportunity to flee to the West. Their string quartet performed for 36 years in the U.S. and around the world. Behind the Strings tells how they got there, the price they paid to stay on top, and why China is now inviting them back to perform the chamber music that was previously banned.
Hal Rifken has worked as a cinematographer and documentary film producer/director for over 30 years. Prior to making Behind the Strings, Rifken had no experience with classical music. But after spending five years shooting this ambitious string quartet project, he says he now “knows a bit” about chamber music and why Mao’s Cultural Revolution banned it.
UP CLOSE Intro by Producer Michael Peroff