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SYNOPSIS: Andrei
Filipov was a prodigy- the celebrated conductor of the Bolshoi
Orchestra, the greatest orchestra in Russia. Today aged 50,
he still works at the Bolshoi but as a cleaner.
During the communist era, he was fired at the height of his
fame for refusing to get rid of all his Jewish players, -
'Zionists and enemies of the People' - including his best
friend Sacha Grossman. Andrei sank into booze and depression.
The Director of the Bolshoi an old apparatchik has been promising
forever to return Andrei's orchestra to him "soon"
but he's mocking him humiliating him sadistically. For him,
Andrei's a has-been and he's doing him a big favour by keeping
him on as a cleaner.
Then Andrei finds a fax. An invitation for the orchestra to
play at Pleyel in Paris in two week's time as a last minute
replacement for the indisposed San Francisco Philharmonic.
Andrei conceives of a crazy notion: he round'll up his old
musician buddies, a motley bunch now scraping a living in
Moscow as cab drivers, removal men, flea market traders, suppliers
of porno sound effects...They'll go to Paris as the Bolshoi.
They'll defy destiny and take their revenge! Will they make
it?
MOVIE
REVIEW:
What they say about music is true, that it
speaks what cannot be expressed in words. You heard it here
from this reviewer who had the privilege to play music in
a symphonic some 10 years back, and the yearning to play again
is something which will forever be brewing inside him. Yes,
all those things about music soothing the mind to give it
rest, healing the heart to make it whole – all true.
Which is why this foreign movie (pardon the pun here) struck
a chord with this music lover.
The protagonist of this engaging film is
Andrei Filipov (Aleksei Guskov), once a renowned conductor
of the Bolshoi orchestra in Russia. He was fired for hiring
Jewish musicians and is now a cleaner at the Bolshoi. He finds
out by chance that the Chatlet Theater in Paris is inviting
the Bolshoi orchestra to play at the esteemed venue, and decides
to bring together his old musician friends to form an orchestra
to play in place of the real Bolshoi orchestra. As ridiculous
as it sounds, it actually works out and before everyone realises
it, they are on their way to Paris.
The movie starts out on a nice note, having
the protagonist reliving his glorious days, only to be jolted
back to reality to remember that he is a mere cleaner. It
does not waste time in setting up the premise, and the comedic
approach in gathering his former musician mates is aptly done
with engaging effects. The troupe then travels to Paris, meeting
obstacle after obstacle, but director Radu Mihaileanu never
sees the scenarios as self pitying ones. Instead, a lighthearted
mood can be felt in the first two thirds of the 118 minute
production.
Then the heartfelt section comes on with
strong impact. We are introduced to a plot development that
a solo violinist is required to accompany the Jewish and gypsy
orchestra Filipov has gathered. A young talented virtuoso
Anne Marie Jacquet (Melanie Laurent) comes into the picture,
and a moving tale involving the characters’ past is
revealed. Both Guskov and Laurent deliver earnestly heartfelt
performances in the movie.
The best parts of the movie are the scenes
which orchestra music is allowed to soar grandly in the background.
Composer Armand Amar was awarded with the accolade of Best
Music Written for a Film at the Cesar Awards in France. The
gorgeous score is complemented by the beautifully filmed scenes
of the orchestra playing in the theater.
The
most affecting portion of the film has to be the finale, where
the young violinist plays solo in front of a large crowd,
under the conducting of a once celebrated maestro. As the
girl’s past is revealed, you also lose yourself in the
magnificently splendid music played by the orchestra. Ah,
such is the power of music.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
A Trailer is included in this Code 3 DVD.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
We
do not have any complaints about visual transfer of the movie.
It is presented in French Dolby Digital 2.0.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
Posted on 30 August 2010
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