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The Red Violin Details

1998 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 1499 members

Following the unusual journey of an original and unique violin (painted red with the blood of his beloved and deceased wife), as it survives three centuries to a present-day auction in Montreal. The violin weaves a Svengali over all those who play it and becomes the subject of passion, deception and destruction. It passes .. Read more

Starring Jason Flemyng, Samuel L. Jackson, Greta Scacchi, Sylvia Chang
Director Francois Girard
Genres Drama

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The Red Violin cover art

The Red Violin

Following the unusual journey of an original and unique violin (painted red with the blood of his beloved and deceased wife), as it survives three centuries to a present-day auction in Montreal. The violin weaves a Svengali over all those who play it and becomes the subject of passion, deception and destruction. It passes through the hands of traveling Gypsies, a famous concert violinist in England to near-confiscation in Communist China, the violin manages to survive the different lives of those it touches.In present day it again becomes the subject of fascination for a violin historian, played by Samuel L. Jackson. On discovering that he has stumbled upon the much sought after 'Red Violin', he considers instigating a deception of his own kind.

Starring Jason Flemyng, Samuel L. Jackson, Greta Scacchi, Sylvia Chang, Colm Feore, Don McKellar
Director Francois Girard
Studio FILM 4
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 1 min
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Subtitles DVD: English
Released DVD: 03 Feb 2003
Production year: 1998
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (4) of The Red Violin

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    Spanning 300 years, three continents and five languages, François Girard's musical chain letter looks and sounds superb. But, with locale and narrative carrying more weight than character, it's difficult to identify with any of the temporary owners of the violin, dyed red with the blood of his dead family by an Italian craftsman (Carlo Cecchi). Cursed by its maker's obsessive pursuit of perfection, the instrument passes on down the centuries, bringing ill-fortune to Austrian child prodigy Christoph Koncz, English virtuoso Jason Flemyng and Chinese student Sylvia Chang, although, intriguingly, we're left unsure whether crooked antiquarian Samuel L Jackson will suffer the same fate.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 1 stars out of 4

    An episodic movie on the power of music that holds the interest for the most part, though a romantic and miscast interlude in England nearly ruins the pleasure it provides.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The Red Violin

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  • 9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Exquisitely Detailed

    Perhaps a little slow and not a great deal of tension, however the music and cinematography alone are worth the effort to sit through this intelligent and richly embroided movie.

    Thoroughly recommended.

    Callus

      • callus from Oxfordshire
      • Posted 10 Jan 2004 18:32

  • Most recent members' review of The Red Violin

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Great move. Cinematography was great and how all the stories of the life of the violin were done - just brilliant. Highly recommend this film if you don't mind subtitles and just a simply enjoyable film to watch.

      • Andrew#326 from LONDON
      • Posted 12 May 2004 09:36

  • News and features

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    Silk

    Silk

    • 08 Nov 2007

    It's possible to make a film about very little… the veteran French filmmaker Eric Rohmer has fashioned a wonderful career out of examining romantic ardors that are rarely consummated, and sometimes barely articulated. Still, it's a delicate art, and when it doesn't come off the results can be excruciating. Sadly, Silk is a case in point. French Canadian director Francois Girard is a talented chap - his Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould was a wonderfully spry, innovative alternative to a Read more

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      • Following the unusual journey of an original and unique violin (painted red with the blood of his beloved and deceased wife), as it survives three centuries to a present-day auction in Montreal. The ...