The documentary explores all of the above concepts through the words and music of the orchestra members. There is no narrative, and the music bed underneath the speakers was chosen specifically by the director to assist in conveying the concepts being discussed. The musicians themselves are identified only by first name, and most of the time the music is not identified at all. No mention is made of the orchestra director. I note this only because several previous reviewers seemed to be irritated by what they considered to be disrespect on the part of Anker. However, as someone who is not familiar with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the significance of most orchestra instruments, nor most orchestral music, it did not detract from the film at all. The filmmaker's emphasis is on the message, and not so much on who delivers that message.

There are several touching stories told by the musicians in their attempts to define music and their relationships to it. Concertmaster and first violinist David Kim's story is dwelt on for quite some time, and he explains how he went from being a child prodigy with high ambitions as a soloist to finding peace and joy in performing as a part of a whole in orchestras or smaller groups of musicians. Trombonist Nitzan Haroz and French Horn player Adam Unsworth both find alternative outlets for their creative passions through performing with a salsa band and jazz improvisation, respectively. There are many other snippets and moments revealing the humanity of the musicians and providing another layer of insight into the question of "what is music?"

The question is never explicitly answered by the film, so don't be disappointed when you watch it. I recommend approaching the film with an open mind, and plan to come away with more to mull over than you had before you watched it. I highly recommend this film to anyone with an interest in music, regardless of the genre.