CHEVALIER MOVIE DRAMA
WELCOME TO FRENCH COURT
To our delight, there is a number of upcoming period set movies that will have their stories happening in France. Beside Clicquot, which will follow the rise
of the famous champagne producing dynasty starring our sweetest boo Leo Suter, and Le Pot Au Feu de Dodin Bouffant, with Juliette Binoche and her baby's daddy Benoit Magimel in the love story set in the world of 1885 French gastronomy, we will first enjoy CHEVALIER movie drama which arrives to cinemas April 21st after successfully screening last September at Toronto Film Festival. After our visit to the lavish court of Catherine the Great yesterday, this one is taking us over to the glitzy court of Marie Antoinette. Her personal composer Chevalier de Saint-Georges also appears briefly in Marie 
Antoinette series which already aired in Europe, but will arrive to USA on PBS Masterpiece this March. But Stephen Williams directed movie, based 
on the true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, follows his rise to heights in French society as a composer before an ill-fated love affair.
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| After cinemas Chevalier will land on Disney in June |
Antoinette series which already aired in Europe, but will arrive to USA on PBS Masterpiece this March. But Stephen Williams directed movie, based 
on the true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, follows his rise to heights in French society as a composer before an ill-fated love affair.
THE STORY FOLLOWS
The rise and resurgence of Chevalier de Saint-Georges (played by Kelvin
Harrison Jr), an 18th century French-Caribbean violinist and composer
who
rose to fame through his musical prodigy. But a complicated love
life and the racism of the ancien régime leads to a falling out with
Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton), whose entourage he was a member of at
the French court, and 
Saint-Georges realizes that things must change.
Beside being a composer, virtuoso violinist and an amazing swordsman who
fought many duels, he also founded schools for children in Africa.
rose to fame through his musical prodigy. But a complicated love
life and the racism of the ancien régime leads to a falling out with
Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton), whose entourage he was a member of at
the French court, and 
Saint-Georges realizes that things must change.
Beside being a composer, virtuoso violinist and an amazing swordsman who
fought many duels, he also founded schools for children in Africa. WHO ELSE IS AT THE COURT?
The cast of the new movie also includes gorgeous Samara Weaving who stars as Marie-Josephine de Montalembert,
Marton Csokas as Marc René, 
marquis de Montalembert,
Alex Fitzalan as Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
and godawful Minnie Driver as Marie-Madeleine Guimard! Sian 
Clifford is Madame de Genlis with Joseph Proven playing famous Mozart (he lived at the time of Mozart, Haydn and Liszt) and Sam Barlien 
portraying the king himself Louis XVI of France! The film boasts resplendent costumes and sets which were shot in Czech capital Prague.
marquis de Montalembert,
Alex Fitzalan as Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
and godawful Minnie Driver as Marie-Madeleine Guimard! Sian 
Clifford is Madame de Genlis with Joseph Proven playing famous Mozart (he lived at the time of Mozart, Haydn and Liszt) and Sam Barlien 
portraying the king himself Louis XVI of France! The film boasts resplendent costumes and sets which were shot in Czech capital Prague.
I haven't been excited about many of the movies so far this year, but this one. Yes. Straight to the top of my list. It's terribly sad and unfortunate how much the world lost out on due to racism and bigotry back then. How many more Chevaliers were waiting in the wings, never having the chance to shine?
ReplyDeleteAt least he was rich thanks to his father, I think not scoring success is more due to not having money and influence than racism these days.
DeleteI completely agree. Not that I don't think racism is alive and well today, but these days it all boils down to money and who you know in order to get ahead. And the lucky few that earn their followers on social media (Cardi B being a fine example) that gain such a following the haves have to accept the have nots earning their place among the wealthy and influential. (Not that I think Cardi has a lick of talent, but today's youth is stupid and she capitalized off of it, so good for her.)
DeleteAnd we are swamped with nepobabies thanks to influence being the main element of success.
Delete"You don't belong here." That has to be one of the worst phrases.
ReplyDeleteSomething we still hear so often even today, for example against the LGBT population.
DeleteNot a fan of French movies or films...but, wow..costumes are impressive.
ReplyDeleteShould be fun to watch.
DeleteI liked the 2001 film (which I saw on TV) "L'Anglaise et Le Duc" about a high-class prostitute and one of her 'protectors' at the time of the French Revolution. The CGI is dated now of course. I don't think the film became terribly famous - I did read that after making the film the actress playing "L'Anglaise" went back to doing an 'ordinary' job.
DeleteShowrunners do very odd things these days. Canal Plus made a series called 'Versailles' a few years ago but they had it acted in English rather than French. That said it was decently acted but they changed history and the life of Louis XIV was interesting enough without making up junk (and some of it was junk - even I knew that as a layperson interested in history but definitely not an expert in the discipline). And don't get me started on 'Reign" about Mary Queen of Scots (though Canal Plus don't have that travesty on their collective conscience(s). The above article concerning the film about Chevalier St Georges has piqued my interest.
DeleteCanal Plus wanted to conquer the world market and thus they did both Versailles and Marie Antoinette last year in English with international cast, other countries are less prone to buy series if they are in French. Antoinette is also historically incorrect but you might find it interesting, it aired on BBC Two from late December and will be available on PBS Masterpiece this month.
DeleteReign was done, methinks, with the purpose to use artistic freedoms both with history, music and costumes. It was just to be pretty for the eye, not a serious show in any way. And it had such a bad, bad ending and final season. But it did give us so many hunky eye candy for years to come....