The Red Violin (1998)
2h 10m | PG-13
300 years of a remarkable musical instrument. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin has traveled through Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake. In Montreal, Samuel L Jackson plays an appraiser going over its complex history.
Director: François Girard
Studio: Rhombus Media
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystery, Music, Romance
Video: 720p
Cast
Carlo Cecchi
as Nicolo Bussotti (Cremona)
Irene Grazioli
as Anna Bussotti (Cremona)
Anita Laurenzi
as Cesca (Cremona)
Tommaso Puntelli
as Apprentice (Cremona)
Samuele Amighetti
as Boy (Cremona)
Jean-Luc Bideau
as Georges Poussin (Vienna)
Reviews
If you're passionate about music, and history, if violins make you weak in the knees, and if you like a timeless love story, The Red Violin won't disappoint.
This is one I've watched a few times over the years and still like it quite a bit. Solid performances, at least from I can tell as at times I can't tell when it's in other languages, though while I like Samuel L. Jackson in his role, there were a couple Jackson-ism lines that felt out of place. Still, the filmmakers did a great job showing this violin throughout the 200 years worldwide journey. **3.75/5**