Poster for the documentary film "Bacewicz x Bomsori," starring Korean violinist Kim Bomsori / Courtesy of Liu Kotow International Management & Promotion

A film featuring Korean violinist Kim Bomsori and capturing her musical journey to revive a long-forgotten composition won a top prize at a French documentary festival.

The film, “Bacewicz x Bomsori,” received the Jury Grand Prix for Best Documentary Film at the ONE Country ONE Film Festival earlier this month, according to Kim’s global agency.

The France-based festival focuses on documentary cinema and cultural storytelling, highlighting diverse human stories from around the world. The Jury Grand Prix is the festival’s highest honor.

Directed by Polish filmmaker Jakub Piatek, the documentary closely follows Kim as she prepares to perform “Polish Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra” by Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-69), a work that remained unpublished and was largely forgotten for many years.

The film captures Kim’s commitment to reviving this overlooked composition, revealing not only her artistic discipline and musical insight, but also her deep engagement with the composer’s life, historical context and creative voice as she brings Bacewicz’s music into the present day. Conveying the process, the documentary unfolds as both a portrait of a musician and a meditation on rediscovery, illuminating forgotten art and the stories it carries.

“Delving deeply into Bacewicz’s music and life brought me great learning and joy, and I hope this film, which reflects that process, resonates with many more people,” Kim said.

Violinist Kim Bomsori performs during a press conference held to promote her first Deutsche Grammophon album, “Violin on Stage,” and recital tour at ODE Port in Seoul, June 1, 2021. Yonhap

Kim is an internationally acclaimed Korean violinist who rose to prominence after winning Second Prize at the International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poland in 2016, and earning recognitions at other international competitions, including the Queen Elisabeth Competition, International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, International Joseph Joachim Violin Competition and Montreal International Musical Competition.

Renowned for her refined musicality, she has performed on major stages worldwide, collaborating with leading orchestras and conductors. Kim further expanded her artistic presence through recordings with leading classical music labels, including releases on Deutsche Grammophon.

Source: Korea Times News