THE RED VIOLIN
Canada, 1998, 131 minutes, Colour.
Carlo Cecchi, Jean- Luc Bideau, Christoph Koncz, Jason Flemyng, Greta Scacchi, Sylvia Chang, Samuel L. Jackson, Colm Feore, Don Mackellar.
Directed by Francois Girard.
The Red Violin is what used to be called a portmanteau film. It focuses on the crafting of a violin in the 17th century, in Italy. The crafting of the violin has a tragic consequence as the wife and child of the maker die (and the maker uses his wife’s blood to varnish the violin). The scene then moves to an Austrian monastery, a child prodigy who is able to play the violin. A century later, gypsies have the violin and an English composer buys it, creates music, and is inspired by his mistress. The jealous mistress shoots the violin.
His Chinese servants take the violin to Shanghai. During the cultural revolution it is hidden and later is taken to Montreal for auction. The valuer realises the value of the violin and may or may not have substituted it to give to his child.
The film has exotic settings, a range of international stars, especially Samuel L. Jackson as the valuer. The different sequences are of mixed impact, changing with the various styles – the English story being, perhaps, the weakest.
Canadian director Francois Girard made the acclaimed film 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould. It is clear that he is fond of music and eager to put music on the big screen?
1. The title, the role of music, the music throughout the film? Works of art, the violin itself, the music, the performance?
2. The structure of the film, a series of tales: Italy, the tarot cards, the death cards and the different episodes? The monastery, England, China, Canada? The interspersing of the music? The dramatic effect? The repetitions, the angles, the visual style?
3. The impact of the music, the violin as a treasure?
4. Location photography and period: Italy, Austria, England, China, Canada?
5. The studio in Cremona, the master instrument maker, his staff, their work, the attention to detail? His marriage, the tarot cards, her pregnancy, the birth of the child, the gift of the violin, their deaths? The pathos of the burial? The role of the housekeeper, foretelling the long journey of the violin? The maker and his using the blood of his wife to varnish the violin? For good or evil? A possibility for her to live through the violin?
6. The transition to Austria, life in the monastery, the years passing, the generations? The child prodigy, his talent? The French master, the lessons, the child becoming obsessed? The impresario and his promotion of Kaspar? The prince, the audition, the boy’s collapse and his death? The burial?
7. The transition to the thieves, the gypsies, playing the violin? The English episode, the atmosphere of Oxford in the 19th century? The concert, the world of Gilbert and Sullivan? Frederick Pope, his character, his skill as a composer, his relationship with Victoria? His wanting the violin, buying it? His composing, playing, fashionable music, popular music? The inspiration to write? Russia? His sexual liaisons? Victoria, her jealousy, shooting the violin? His degeneration, using the drugs, his death?
8. The Chinese servants, the transition to China, Shanghai, the exotic atmosphere of 20th century Shanghai? The sale of the violin, the jewels? Time passing? Buying the violin for the daughter? The teacher and his love for the battered violin? His death? The instruments, his collection? The cultural revolution? The denunciations, the burning? The violin saved? The transition to Canada?
9. Canada, the auction, the valuer and his character, his knowledge of the violin, wanting the violin for his daughter? Testing it? Whether he substituted a fake violin or not? Or the end of the violin’s tragic journey?
10. The Chinese background, the tests, the staff in contemporary Canada, the preparation of the catalogue, the tests, the blood? The valuer, his skills, the hotel, the truth? The auction itself? The taxi ride? The change or not?
11. The effects of this saga, moving through the various centuries, culture? The focus on human nature? History, the precarious nature of art and skills? A world of music?
