User:Teharper

Prodigy (film)

Prodigy is a documentary film written and directed by Andrea Kalin and produced by her company Spark Media. The film juxtaposes the lives of two Black child prodigies.

History

George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower living in 18th century Europe and James Coyne in present day United States. Bridgetower was just 9 years old when he entertained kings and queens with his extraordinary talent. He even caught the ear of young phenom, Beethoven. He and Beethoven became close friends, sharing a stage on many occasions.

Beethoven wrote one of his greatest pieces for the two of them to play that he called “sonata per uno mulaticco lunattico,” better known as his Violin Sonata No. 9 At some point, Bridgetower and Beethoven parted ways. With a rift in their friendship that was never repaired. Beethoven renamed Bridgetower’s sonata, "The Kreutzer Sonata." Poet Laureate, Rita Dove wrote a book, "Sonata Mulattica", on Bridgetower that would have been otherwise lost in history.

Joshua Coyne, in an abusive foster home, was removed from his home at two years old. He was placed in the care of much better family who introduced him to classical music very early. Joshua took to the music right away and began playing violin at age 4. Kicking off his career at age 6.

Synopsis

The film illustrates both young men with tremendous social and/or political obstacles, carried only by their talent for music. While Bridgetower was almost written out of history, Coyne is on the brink of making history.