The Red Violin
3.5/4
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Carlo Cecchi, Irene Grazioli, Anita Laurenzi, Jean-Luc Bideau, Christoph Koncz, Jason Flemyng, Greta Scacchi, Sylvia Chang, Don McKellar, Colm Feore
Rated R for Some Sexuality
There are two reasons why I like this movie: I am a history buff and I love stories. Although "The Red Violin" is fictional, it feels like a true story. This isn't a biopic of a person, however. The subject is actually a violin.
In Montreal, there is an auction for a number of rare string instruments. But the one that everyone is talking about is the famed "Red Violin." It was created in 1681, the final work by famed craftsman Niccolo Bussotti (Cecchi). He intends for the violin, his masterpiece, to be for his soon-to-be-born son, but his wife and child die in labor. The violin travels across Europe, ending up in the hands of a prodigy (Koncz) and his teacher (Bideau), a vain composer (Flemyng) and his lover (Scacchi), and surviving the Great Leap Forward through the efforts of a Comrade (Chang). But is the violin at the auction really "the" Red Violin? That's what appraiser Charles Morritz (Jackson) is attempting to find out.
In little more than two hours, Francois Gerard has crafted what is really an epic. It's filled with passion, tragedy and romance. Yes, some of it is overwrought, but that's because this sort of story demands it.
The first segment details the story of the donor and the prodigy. This starts the meat of the film off on a strong note because Girard is able to give depth to Poussin (Bideau). At first, he seems to be a self-serving and obsessed jerk. But he comes to care about his young ward, and that gives the segment a note of poignancy.
The second segment is the weakest, although it's still pretty good. It has nothing to do with the performances: both Flemyng and Scacchi are very good. The weakness is in the story itself. The passionate, melodramatic affair between composer Frederick Pope (Flemyng) and his author-lover, Victoria (Scacchi) just isn't as dynamic as the other two.
The final segment is the strongest. Girard has clearly done his research and presents the sweeping changes of the Great Leap Forward with style, emotion and credibility. The acting by Sylvia Chang, as the tormented comrade is excellent, and so is Hong Tao, who plays the fiery revolutionary Chan Gong. Of all the characters, she is the one I remembered the most.
Finally, Girard devotes some time to Morritz (various descendants/relations of the past characters show up at the auction after each segment). His research into the violin is fascinating, and of course it's easy to connect with Morritz because he's played by the invaluable Samuel L. Jackson. Interestingly enough, his assistant is played by co-writer Don McKellar.
In-between the segments is the story of Bussotti's wife, Anna (Grazioli) getting her fortune read by Cesca (Laurenzi). Both characters are well-acted and memorable, and although it is clear that the fortune relates to the violin, it's not clear until the end how Anna's future is connected to it.
Sadly, the violin music gets a little repetitive after a while. But this is an otherwise great film.
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Carlo Cecchi, Irene Grazioli, Anita Laurenzi, Jean-Luc Bideau, Christoph Koncz, Jason Flemyng, Greta Scacchi, Sylvia Chang, Don McKellar, Colm Feore
Rated R for Some Sexuality
There are two reasons why I like this movie: I am a history buff and I love stories. Although "The Red Violin" is fictional, it feels like a true story. This isn't a biopic of a person, however. The subject is actually a violin.
In Montreal, there is an auction for a number of rare string instruments. But the one that everyone is talking about is the famed "Red Violin." It was created in 1681, the final work by famed craftsman Niccolo Bussotti (Cecchi). He intends for the violin, his masterpiece, to be for his soon-to-be-born son, but his wife and child die in labor. The violin travels across Europe, ending up in the hands of a prodigy (Koncz) and his teacher (Bideau), a vain composer (Flemyng) and his lover (Scacchi), and surviving the Great Leap Forward through the efforts of a Comrade (Chang). But is the violin at the auction really "the" Red Violin? That's what appraiser Charles Morritz (Jackson) is attempting to find out.
In little more than two hours, Francois Gerard has crafted what is really an epic. It's filled with passion, tragedy and romance. Yes, some of it is overwrought, but that's because this sort of story demands it.
The first segment details the story of the donor and the prodigy. This starts the meat of the film off on a strong note because Girard is able to give depth to Poussin (Bideau). At first, he seems to be a self-serving and obsessed jerk. But he comes to care about his young ward, and that gives the segment a note of poignancy.
The second segment is the weakest, although it's still pretty good. It has nothing to do with the performances: both Flemyng and Scacchi are very good. The weakness is in the story itself. The passionate, melodramatic affair between composer Frederick Pope (Flemyng) and his author-lover, Victoria (Scacchi) just isn't as dynamic as the other two.
The final segment is the strongest. Girard has clearly done his research and presents the sweeping changes of the Great Leap Forward with style, emotion and credibility. The acting by Sylvia Chang, as the tormented comrade is excellent, and so is Hong Tao, who plays the fiery revolutionary Chan Gong. Of all the characters, she is the one I remembered the most.
Finally, Girard devotes some time to Morritz (various descendants/relations of the past characters show up at the auction after each segment). His research into the violin is fascinating, and of course it's easy to connect with Morritz because he's played by the invaluable Samuel L. Jackson. Interestingly enough, his assistant is played by co-writer Don McKellar.
In-between the segments is the story of Bussotti's wife, Anna (Grazioli) getting her fortune read by Cesca (Laurenzi). Both characters are well-acted and memorable, and although it is clear that the fortune relates to the violin, it's not clear until the end how Anna's future is connected to it.
Sadly, the violin music gets a little repetitive after a while. But this is an otherwise great film.
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