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The Red Violin on DVD (1998)

The Red Violin cover art
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Average rating: 73%
11133101120511
3.5
from 355 members
 
Starring: Jason Flemyng, Samuel L. Jackson, Greta Scacchi, Sylvia Chang, Colm Feore, Don McKellar
Director: Francois Girard
Studio: FILM 4
Run time: 121 mins
Certificate: 15
User collections: Forgotten Films, Great Canadian Films, If you don't mind the subtitles..., From a Canadian in Exile in Britain - Top Movies List
Genres: Drama
Languages: English
Subtitles: English
Released: 03/02/2003

Brief synopsis of 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.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 3 stars out of 5 Radio Times

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.

Rating of 1 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

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.

Time Out

Cremona, 1693: master violin maker Nicolo Bussotti (Cecchi) loses both wife and child to a difficult birth and adds... Read more on www.timeout.com

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsWonderful story of a violin and its effect on people through time

Fergus Smith from Leeds, UK , 10/10/2004

Lovely story, beautifully told, with outstanding performances from players both well known and new. Would be liked by people who adored The English Patient etc.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsFantastic!!

zaferina from Nottinghamshire , 01/11/2003

The idea for this film is fantastic, following the life of any antique is bound to reveal plenty of drama worth telling. I can't believe no one else has mentioned Christoph Koncz, a real-life violin virtuoso, who plays Kasper Weisz in the film. This child will take your breath away with his musical and acting skills. To think he was only about 10 is astounding.

This film has been brilliantly created in lush period settings and also manages to keep the curiosity going with a present day situation relating to the on going life of this red violin.........are violins normally red?

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsExquisitely Detailed

callus from Oxfordshire , 10/01/2004

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

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsA must for anyone who enjoys classical music

crispin40 from Stirling, Scotland , 27/12/2004

I really enjoyed this story of a violin from its creation onwards through the centuries and countries. I also enjoyed the different languages and was pleased with myself for being able to understand most of the German and French dialogue. But most of all, I enjoyed the virtuoso playing of Joshua Bell. One slight moan is that the end credits were so fast and so small that I couldn't read them and I'll have to look at the cast list in more detail - either here on IMBD web site.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 4 starsA must for anyone who enjoys classical music

crispin40 from Stirling, Scotland , 27/12/2004

I really enjoyed this story of a violin from its creation onwards through the centuries and countries. I also enjoyed the different languages and was pleased with myself for being able to understand most of the German and French dialogue. But most of all, I enjoyed the virtuoso playing of Joshua Bell. One slight moan is that the end credits were so fast and so small that I couldn't read them and I'll have to look at the cast list in more detail - either here on IMBD web site.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 stars

Gleebody#1 from CLEVEDON , 22/04/2004

A quiet film. No great action, but interesting and spellbinding none the less. Loved the way some of it was subtitled, other bits not. Confess I ordered it because Samuel L Jackson was in it - and really glad I did.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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