Speaking in Code (2009) User Reviews

The plot is very misleading

[obonin · 4/10 · 22 April 2010]

The plot that describe the film is actually really misleading. When it appears that the goal of the film was to portray what is in the plot...

"Speaking in Code is an intimate account of people who are completely lost in music. A heartbreaking and lighthearted documentary, it's a vérité glimpse into the world of techno. Captivating and entertaining, the film takes you around the world, following the people who make electronic music, their lives" ... the filmmakers got lost indeed but not in their music and rather in their relationship. Although this wouldn't mean the film can't be great, the film actually falls short of delivering a moving story about a couple that was trying to find themselves in the world of freelancing and music production. The film shows you how the male of the couple succeeds in producing large parties, and how the female slowly loses him. Many could potentially relate to such an intimate story about how 2 individuals try to live as a couple, but fail to do so, but the film fails in that too, where most of the analysis of what is happening is rather typical and shallow. It feels like a bad love story.

But again, do not get confused by the plot, this film is not about electronic music, it is not a look at the world of techno... techno is really only the background, or the set in this film, like any other profession the couple could have been into.

i very like

[diffffuse · 9/10 · 21 July 2010]

I thought this film was fantastic.

A candid, genuine, infinitely interesting look at what animates the heart(s) of electronic music.

Rather than attempt to summarise/historicise/categorise any aspects of electronic music, the film focuses on several characters and their own stories (including some pivotal figures of modern techno), and lets the film evolve on it's own terms. To me, I don't think there is way to tell it any better.

I don't think the criticisms levelled at the film are fair. The style of the film is different to other documentaries, but if we never allowed people freedom in their methods there wouldn't be any electronic music to make a film about. And for me, I felt that the decisions made by the filmmakers were good ones, and helped to form the backbone of the movie, without taking anything away from the more well known characters.

The only minor criticism I have is that I felt that the subtitles were used with a bit too much frequency.

Overall highly recommended.

The Movie/Documentary "Speaking In Code" was not what i expected it to be, and with irrelevant things seeming to consume the whole film, i do feel a little let down.

[giacietto · 4/10 · 20 July 2010]

The Movie 'Speaking In Code' got me very excited at first. i thought it was going to be an in-depth exploration of styles of music, the cultures, and the people who make it, similar to the likes of the documentary "Better Living Through Circuitry" or "One Perfect Day", however, this was not the case.

There weren't as many interviews as i would have thought there should have been and the interviews that where on the movie were not really in-depth and didn't show hardly any of the music production. Some interviews with the Dj's/Producers seemed to be more about the problems that they were facing, than their music. There was not any exploration of where this kind of musical scene began, which really let me down.

Heading towards the end of the documentary, i began to realize that throughout the whole movie, it has been more about the problems that the couple filming and directing the movie are facing at this seems to consume the whole movie. i think it had potential to be a great movie/documentary but unfortunately i did not enjoy it as i thought that i would and i think that many others feel the same way.

No techno documentary?

[harryzunder · 8/10 · 30 July 2010]

Some reviews posted till now all have on thing in common: They say that Speaking in Code is no techno documentary. So I am asking what else is it?

I mean some of the commentaries break it down to the couple's relation and the fact that it comes to a bad end. This is of course part of the documentary, but is it the essence? To me, a techno oriented dj, the couple's story is only one of the plots that all run parallel while some cross each other and then slightly fade away. To me the essence of the movie is the fact that people really get lost into music. If you have a look at David you will see that he is Amy's boyfriend and behaves like that but when he is getting deeper into the whole techno scene in the US and his parties become more famous he is slightly loosing contact. There is only his work and the time after when he is preparing the next party. Or think of The Wighnomy Brothers and Gabor who became ill so that he had to stop djing, producing, and travelling. I think he did not realize the fact being ill because he was leaded by the music - although a lot may say that the alcohol plays a main role. So you see that there are of course people that get lost in music!

All the recordings from different festivals - remember the Modeselektor gig - the interviews with Modeselektor, The Wighnomy Brothers, Monolake, Ellen Allien, Phillip Sherburne or Tobias Thomas, the Kompakt Tour and the Interview with Wolfgang Voigt which you can find on the DVD show how deep the different musicians are into the music. To me this is obvious but maybe it is because I am a bit deeper into electronic music as others? Is it maybe just a techno documentary for electronic music lovers?