SYNOPSIS: Paris
1913, Coco Chanel is devoted to her work and madly in love
with the handsome and very wealthy, Arthur 'Boy' Capel. At
the theatre des Champs-Elysees, Igor Stravinsky premieres
his Rite of Spring. Coco attends the premiere and is mesmerised.
But the revolutionary work is too modern, too radical: the
enraged audience boos and jeers. A near-riot ensues. Stravinsky
is inconsolable.
Seven years later. Now rich, respected and successful, Coco
is devastated by Boy Capel's death. She meets Stravinsky again
- now a penniless refugee living in exile in Paris after the
Russian Revolution, the attraction between them is immediate
and electric. Coco offers Stravinsky the use of her new villa
in Garches so that he will be able to work and he moves in
straight away with his children and consumptive wife. And
so a passionate, intense love affair between two creative
giants begins...
MOVIE
REVIEW:
Are you someone like this columnist, a male species who does not understand the fuss kicked up by the other someone of the gender when she sees a Chanel handbag? Or when she goes gaga over a bottle of Chanel No. 5? If you are, then you’d probably empathize with this, ahem, rather unrefined columnist that a branded piece of accessory, or for that matter, a branded bottle of scent, is a commodity which holds high regards because of the perception it gives. Ever wondered who or what are the sources behind these highly respected goods?
This art house drama tells the story of the titular Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky. Based on a 2002 fictional novel by Chris Greenhalgh, it chronicles the affair between the two creative personalities of the 1920s. One is a French fashion designer who is ahead of her time. The other is a Russian composer whose works are not readily accepted by the mainstream audience.
When Chanel invites Strainsky and his wife and children (we expect nothing less from the revolutionary pioneer in woman fashion) to her house, a passionate relationship is formed between the two, which, depending on whether you’re a believer of such sparks of love, inspired the creation of Chanel No. 5.
So there you have it, a story which seems to suggest that the roller coaster of emotions played a big part in the creation of the celebrated scent. It is also said that some of Stravinsky’s most stirring compositions were inspired by the termination of this relationship. Ah, such is the power of love – and loss.
Director Jan Kounen has managed to create the tension and discomfort felt by the two protagonists in this well acted film. Through exquisite set decoration and art design, viewers get a heightened sense of the extravagance and the contrasting streaks of pain depicted in this unhappy love story.
Besides a capable production design team, Kounen has to thank his two lead actors who managed to portray the characters with an engaging dose of anguish and torment, so much so that we do not see what’s so grand about romantic love.
Anna Mouglalis and Mads Mikkelsen are wonderful as Chanel and Stravinsky – watch how the two portray a story of love and hate with credible performances. One look, one gesture, one dialogue – the different forms of expressions relay different dynamics of the doomed relationship. Whether or not this leads to flashes of inspiration and stimulation to create works of art, that is something we may never know.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The movie's visual transfer is fine, and is presented in its original French Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
Posted on 17 December 2010
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