Red Violin
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Movie Reviews of Red Violin
Movie Review: When movies are art
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a beautifully constructed movie with layers of enjoyment for critical appreciation far beyond the lush music, visual images, and simple story line. It is a notable example of movie-making craft. Its ability to weave suspense, curiosity, and anticipation through dramatic techniques such as juxtaposition of scenes and dramatic irony without seeming too cliched are a tribute to both production and direction. Repeated viewings continue to unearth little gems of writing and direction. For example, early in the film 17th century violin maker Bussotti smashes an employee's handiwork because it's only fit for ordinary people to play and therefore not worthy to carry his name; his own personally crafted masterpiece, the Red Violin, susequently follows the exact path he demeans and goes on to provide the story of the film. This single line of dialogue is easily missed; it may seem that the point is just to portray Bussotti as a cranky old git but on a second viewing you catch how his words eerily foretell the future. This is the kind of device that may not register on first impression because the viewer's attention is easily wrapt through the rich cinematographic images, music and a grasping of the notion that there is actually a plot, not just a storyline - and it's a plot with a nice little twist at the end, perhaps a little incredulous but nicely befitting the journey. Although parts of the movie are fanciful they are imaginative and contrast well with the prosaicness of other aspects of the humand condition. In the auction house climax, where the historied Red Violin is offered for 20th century sale, the passions of art and money clash head on. But in fact, the movie pits different passions together throughout and so weaves a convincing and wonderful belief that art and passion are not only mutual fuels - whether involving love, money, or politics - but that they inseperable. This takes the sensitive viewer on an emotional roller coaster ride as it is hard not to feel the passions represented on the screen and underscored by the music. Picasso said that art is a lie which tells us a truth and this movie meets the criteria. When all is said and done, the fictitious story of the Red Violin tells us more about ourselves than it does about musical instruments. It raises questions about human motivations, ethics, and loyalties that go on long after the movie is over. Watch it because it's simply a nice little movie, satisfying to the senses and undemanding in its ability to offer pleasure. Savor it because it is a piece of art. Leave it on the shelf if you're not appreciative of romantic music or the kind of person who doesn't enjoy turning the pages of a good book.Movie Review: The soul of music and the object of obsession
Summary: 5 Stars
The Red Violin, on of my favorite films of recent years even though by today's standards might be considered an old film? Sam Jackson, while only have a small roll is superb in this film, as is the rest of the assembled cast. The story beings in the work shop of Nicolo Vissotti, a master craftsman of string instruments. There, we follow him through tragedy, the untimely passing of his wife and son and follow her life through the eyes of a fortune teller. Anna, now passing through the centuries from one to another as a violin from the hands of a 10 year old prodigy, the hands of gypsy's and then a master, Lord Fredric Pope where she finally rests in the tumultuous Chinese government and it rise to Communism. There, the Red Violin passes to an auction where it is discovered who the true maker was and that the "legend" of the Red Violin is true as Sam Jackson discovers. A frenzied bid ensues as all want to lay claim to the Red Violin, many of those who share a past history with her.
An excellent plot, script, acting and story line carries this film from start to finish, a timeless classic in my opinion. My only complaint about the DVD itself is the present format it is presented in, again (in my opinion) the current DVD available for purchase is far below satisfactory, in short...it sucks. My advice is that if you can find one, find the original DVD which was released sometime in 1998 or 1999 and stay away from the current DVD that is being sold. The language selection in the 2000-2003 release is quite bothersome. The older version provides subtitles only when needed (as this is more or less a foreign film), whereas the new releases of this film, the subtitles are on constantly and don't really qualify as "subtitles for reading" as they are more there for the hearing impaired. Aside from the DVD flaws, The Red Violin is a superb film and you really get to see Sam Jackson in rare form onscreen. I highly recommend adding this film to your DVD collection.
Movie Review: A Magical Story, Almost Like A Poem
Summary: 5 Stars
I may be a bit biased, because in my heart I am a collector--of time, stamps, of bits of past. So, I kind of understood the drive one feels when one comes across a piece like a 350 years old violin. Before commenting on the story, I should say, the script was beautiful, the sequence of scenes were very skillfully done. This is what I call craftsmanship of directing and producing. It's not a masterpiece possibly, but a very well made movie--sophisticated, yet not boring. It was able to transmit emotion, or should I say generate emotion in the audience, without any effort of dictating or contaminating the experience, which is very common for Hollywood movies.
The story was also very sentimental. I liked its rendition of muse as an energy form, and how sensuality, desire and music, beauty are like elements of a set that governs the universe, only if we are open to it. It shows money and power and pomposity, yet it also shows an aspect of humanity that makes us human, our desire to touch the divine, our connectedness--through beauty of past and present.
A scenes can be symbolic of one's love and devotion to his/her vocation, his/her calling.The violin master loved his wife no doubt, and she deserved to be immortal through the best piece he ever created. As if he gave birth to her through that violin. her spirit, her soul became transmitted through the blood into the violin.
In a nutshell, this movie has a mythical appeal, and will vibrate your inner self a bit.
Try it.
Movie Review: The Red Violin
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie shows the love between a man and women. How the man's life was was going to change with the birth of a child to happiness and fulfillment but then tragedy strikes and this man's joy turned to sorrow and lonliness. His wife has died in childbirth along with their child. Yet this man saw how he could keep part of his wife with him as he crafted a most perfect violin and painted it with his dead wife's blood. Many years later this very valuable instrument was owned and played by others but then ended up at an aution to be sold for thousands of dollars. But one man's desire and greed took him so far as to plan and steal the valuable violin. With the help of another the violin was switched and he was able to leave building with the valuable violin in his possession. It was very suspenceful when he left with the violin and was quickly walking to his car when he was called out by someone working at the aution. At that moment he thought that he had been discovered but no, they only wanted to return his coat that he had left at the front desk. Where was he taking this valuable violin....it would be a gift for his child. Little did he know the story of this violin that he was going to give his child. Had he known the tragedy and the red color of the violin, would he have wanted it for his child. Maybe not.
Good, good movie.
Movie Review: An Exception to the Rule
Summary: 5 Stars
Let's face it. THE RED VIOLIN is a movie about a thing. An instrument. A violin. A very metaphysical violin. The people moving in and out of the story are mere props. Such a formula--one would think--would invite tepid disaster, but director Francois Girard gracefully maneuvers and interweaves the violin's story in this exquisitely handsome film, augmented by John Corigliano's haunting musical score.
The story consists of a series of interconnected vignettes--the red violin being the common component. And this little fiddle gets around--from Italy, where it was made in the 17th Century, to Austria, England, China, and finally, Canada. As it garners its reputation as the "perfect acoustical instrument," the viewer is left to ponder (and it ain't that much of a mystery) the source of the violin's red varnish, ultimately revealed during the film's climactic sequence at a lush auction house. Samuel L. Jackson is solid (as always) as an impatient, somewhat grumpy, violin appraiser. Oh, and the film's international actors aren't half bad, either.
Subtitled in Italian, French, German, Chinese, and English, THE RED VIOLIN is a beautiful, compelling, mysterious, sensual, haunting film--a film where the violin is truly the star.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning