X
- 1999
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 2 h 10 m
- 1999
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 2 h 10 m
Summary Francois Girard's epic follows the history of a violin as it passes over continents and through lives over the span of three centuries.
Directed By: François Girard
Written By: Don McKellar, François Girard
- 1999
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 2 h 10 m
- 1999
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 2 h 10 m
The Red Violin
57
7.6
Where to Watch
Summary Francois Girard's epic follows the history of a violin as it passes over continents and through lives over the span of three centuries.
Directed By: François Girard
Written By: Don McKellar, François Girard
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
57
50% Positive
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
45% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
5% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
57
50% Positive
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
45% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
5% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
While it's possible to view this movie like a short-story collection, putting check marks beside the selections one likes best, to do so would deny the pleasure of experiencing this beautifully crafted, intricately designed story the way it was intended, as an organic whole. [11 June 1999, Calendar, p.F-8]
The ensemble cast is diverse and accomplished, but, because of the time constraints, no one has enough time to register much of a positive or negative impression.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 21 User Ratings
7.6
86% Positive
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
5% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
10% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 21 User Ratings
7.6
86% Positive
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
5% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
10% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
It's amazing how one film can tell an engrossing life journey about an inanimate object that only becomes animated when played by the hands and talents of people based on their time period/culture. There is also a mysticism about this picture that grabs me and gets me thinking hard and I admire films that manage to affect me in a deep way. Just like "The Red Violin" itself, this film has a special quality about it that makes it something truly wonderful. What a lovely film!
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I thought this was a novel approach to a movie, to see the lives of the owners of a musical instrument over the centuries. I was amazed at the critics low score. Maybe showing the many owners made the movie too choppy and didn't allow for a more in depth look at each. But then the movie would have been 4 hours long. I don't have many DVDs but this one is in my collection.
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Some will say this film is overly ambitious, but what the hell. The man put five years of his life into making this epic mystery. We can surely give it two hours of ours.
Wants to make a grand statement about the mystical power (both celestial and demonic) of great music. But give or take some scattered musical moments, the frame in which that message is couched is too kitschy to let that vision catch fire.
The filmmakers have created a pretentious extended "Twilight Zone" episode with obscenely high production values.
It's almost as lame-brained as any Hollywood blockbuster, if prettier and more pretentious.
The style of the movie veers unsuccessfully between humorless piety and opéra-bouffe clownishness.
I enjoyed this in terms of being a part period drama, with a mystery element. I liked seeing how the lives of the various owners of said violin changed in time, what happened and so on. I did find it a little confusing/frustrating due to the fact it kept changing from one timeline to another, from, say, hundreds of years ago and suddenly back to the modern day (or as it was when the film was released, in the late 1990s). However, my favourite aspect to this film was the actual violin recitals played throughout - I'm not a big lover of classical music but the music was/is very good.
This is an intriguing part character drama, with numerous characters depicted and also a mystery film, with some great instrumentals present. I would definitely recommend this film, yes.
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This movie may no doubt be spectacular to violin fanatics or those who can appreciate extensive periods of violin solos, but for the average viewer these moments are too numerous and repetitive and frankly boring. The ending is also poor, but overall (despite overdoing the musical scenes) it is a watchable movie. Could have been shorter though. 4/10
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Production Company
Rhombus Media,
Mikado Film,
New Line International,
Channel Four Films,
Canada Television and Cable Production Fund,
Telefilm Canada - Equity Investment Program,
CITY-TV,
Bravo Arts Channel,
Filmfonds Wien,
Sony Classical,
Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)
Release Date Jun 11, 1999
Duration 2 h 10 m
Rating R
Tagline Passion Is Timeless
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Jutra Awards
• 9 Wins & 11 Nominations
