Synopsis: When Mao’s Cultural Revolution ended, China’s door cracked open. Taking advantage of the opportunity to finally pursue their passion, four young, classical musicians fled to the West. Thus began a lifetime adventure – studying with great masters, attending Juilliard and performing at major music festivals and the best classical music venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center. When the cellist decided to leave, they invited a young American grad student from New York City’s Spanish Harlem to join. He was a highly praised cellist but with a New York City “attitude” that the three Chinese men had never encountered. BEHIND THE STRINGS showcases their lives, how they got to the top and the price they pay, holding down full-time teaching positions and traveling throughout the world by plane, train, bus, and taxi fulfilling a stressful 180-day performance schedule. The wives tell stories of the career decisions they made and the associated burdens, while the film reveals a great deal of backstage/behind the scenes activities— rehearsing, "negotiating" artistic viewpoints, family life, and more. Of special note to Woodstock Film Festival audiences, the Shanghai Quartet has thus far had a 30-year run at the Maverick Concerts, including the celebration of the 25th season at the Maverick in 2015, which is seen in the film.

Director's Bio: Hal Rifken has worked as a cinematographer and documentary film producer/director for over 30 years. He began his career as an educator at the University of Wisconsin, then moved to NYC to start a production company. Production highlights include two years on location for the Food Network (EDIBLE ROOTS WITH MARTIN YAN), music videos and artist profiles for Sony Music, documentaries that include an Indian-American artist (BLUE LIKE ME: THE ART OF SIONA BENJAMIN), and Michael Peroff’s ambitious string quartet project (BEHIND THE STRINGS). Currently he is producing a documentary on Guatemala’s indigenous Maya people (GUATEMALA: TROUBLE IN THE HIGHLANDS).