THE JOURNAL

We witness the conflict that arises when a son doesn’t want to follow in his father’s professional footsteps.
Episode 04: The Lesson
Mr Rolf Dragstra is a piano tuner, a profession his family have practised for several generations; his son, Mr Ellis Lewis Dragstra, is a film-maker and photographer, who also works alongside his father. As the elder Mr Dragstra worries for the future of his craft in the absence of a designated successor, and the younger Mr Dragstra insists on his independence while acknowledging that their collaboration has brought them closer together, will middle-C end up standing for “concord” or “conflict”? The answer is in marked contrast to the keys they’re tending to: far from black and white.
Series Synopsis
Produced by MR PORTER and Radio Wolfgang, this documentary series explores contemporary masculinity, through the eyes of fathers and their sons. From funny and inspiring to thought-provoking and poignant stories, we celebrate the multifaceted nature of fatherhood, focusing on the highs and lows of birth, death, love, money, health and inheritance.
Radio Wolfgang is an independent online and app-based radio station co-founded by Messrs George Lamb and Colm Roche. Its most popular series include Science(ish), Beginning And Middle and The Lives Of Others.
Podcast by MR PORTER and Radio Wolfgang
Illustrations by Crispin Finn