The Red Violin

The Red Violin (1998)

Genres - Drama, Romance, Music, Mystery, Thriller  |   Sub-Genres - Period Film, Romantic Drama, Musical Drama  |   Release Date - Jun 11, 1999 (USA)  |   Run Time - 131 min.  |   Countries - Canada, United Kingdom, Italy  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Bhob Stewart

Francois Girard directed this drama tracing the history of a musical instrument through five countries and three centuries. In 1681, to keep the spirit of his wife alive, an Italian paints the violin with a red varnish made from her blood. It is later found in the Austrian Alps when a prodigy gives a performance in the court of Vienna in 1792. Taken by gypsies, the instrument is acquired by a Dionysian composer. After a journey by boat to China in 1966, it is hidden during the Cultural Revolution. In contemporary Canada, it is spotted at an auction house by a violin expert (Samuel L. Jackson) who becomes obsessed with it. Scripted by Girard and Don McKellar. Filmed on a $10 million budget in Montreal, China, Italy, Austria, and Oxford.

Characteristics

Keywords

composer, craftsmanship, cultural-revolution, gypsy, journey, monk, music, musical-instrument, obsession, orphan, writer, time

Attributes

High Artistic Quality, Sleeper