Watch Bloody daughter: Martha Argerich as seen by her daughter Stephanie

Bloody Daughter is an intimate portrait of a world-renowned pianist, Martha Argerich, as seen through the eyes of her daughter, Stephanie. The movie is a captivating insight into the life of Martha and how her life story fascinates not only her admirers but also her daughter. The whole documentary is a mix of concert footage, photos, archival footage, and interviews with Stephanie and Martha herself.

The film takes off with Stephanie narrating about her mother Martha, who is one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. However, stephanie also confesses to her unresolved resentments of growing up with a mother who was always performing in various countries and never really had time for her personal life. Despite all of this, the documentary's opening scene completely captures the excitement she shares with her mother and her performances in a concert hall. The film moves along a lot of concert footage and interviews with famous musicians who not only praise Martha's incredible talent but also share details of her life about how it was during the time she wasn't performing. It transitions smoothly into Stephanie's perspective of her mother. As the movie continues to go, Stephanie's comments become more frequent, and it's clear that the crux of the documentary is the relationship between mother and daughter.

Indeed, Stephanie is the central figure in this documentary because the movie documents her journey through the world of music and growing up without a stable family life. Throughout the film, a stunning juxtaposition between Martha's life in the public and her private interactions with her daughter is portrayed. The documentary offers a unique perspective on a woman's life and the challenges that come from being an artist, a mother, and a woman, but ultimately, it is about the unconditional bond between mother and daughter.

The film also gives prominence to Martha's life as a music enthusiast and teacher. It shares the many stories of Martha's relationships with her students and colleagues, and how her passion for teaching reflects in her students. It enables viewers to see the other side of the great Maestro who turns out to be friendly, kind, honest, humble, and passionate about life. The film also raises interesting questions regarding the drive and jealousies that tend to live within the art community. Through Stephanie's interviews with colleagues and accompanying her mother in rehearsals, the documentary provides unique insights into the musical process, the fight for perfection, and misunderstanding.

The film's visual style is impressive and fascinating as it incorporates footage from the different areas of Martha's life into a larger narrative. From footage of Martha's concerts spliced with Stephanie's recollection of those times, to handwritten letters and archive footage helping to bring the past to life. The editing gives the film an additional layer of depth, revealing a particular intellectual effort to create something more than a biographical documentary. It was more of an artistic collective exploration of the concept of humanity and existence, with music serving as a backdrop.

As the documentary comes to a close, it dispels the notion that it attempted to capture everything about Martha Argerich's life. It serves as an intimate portrait of the world's greatest pianists, showing her art and talents which have made her a household name, but also her humanity. The film's significance lies in how it also raises questions on motherhood, the choices made by mothers, the difficulty of balancing work and family, and the price society often extracts from women in pursuit of success. It is an impactful, deeply personal film that manages to connect with the viewer on several levels simultaneously.

Overall, Bloody Daughter is a documentary that successfully captures the essence of Martha Argerich's life, her influences, and her music. It's an honest and touching portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship and the price of success. It's a great pick for anyone who wants to be moved by the human experience and see the life story of a remarkable woman whose career spanned five decades.

Bloody daughter: Martha Argerich as seen by her daughter Stephanie is a 2008 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes.