Chevalier
Chevalier

Movie spotlight

Chevalier

2023
Movie
104 min
English

The illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, Joseph Bologne rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, complete with an ill-fated love affair and a falling out with Marie Antoinette and her court.

Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes77%
Metacritic61/100
Google Users77%
Director: Stephen WilliamsGenres: Biography, Drama, Music

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a brilliant and enigmatic composer, opera singer, and fencer. Born the son of a wealthy plantation owner and an enslaved woman, Bologne navigated the rigid social hierarchy of 18th-century France, rising to prominence in music and swordsmanship. His talent and charisma brought him into the orbit of the French aristocracy, including Queen Marie Antoinette, yet he faced prejudice and betrayal.

Critical Reception

Chevalier received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its performances, historical scope, and musical elements. While some found the narrative pacing uneven, many lauded Kelvin Harrison Jr.'s portrayal of Bologne and the film's ambition in bringing a lesser-known historical figure to the screen.

What Reviewers Say

  • A vibrant and passionate biopic that shines a light on an extraordinary, under-recognized historical figure.

  • Kelvin Harrison Jr. delivers a magnetic performance as the multifaceted composer and fencer.

  • The film successfully blends music, drama, and historical context, though some storylines feel rushed.

Google audience: Audiences largely appreciated the film's portrayal of Chevalier de Saint-Georges, finding Kelvin Harrison Jr.'s performance compelling and the historical narrative engaging. Many enjoyed the musical performances and the costume design.

Fun Fact

Kelvin Harrison Jr. learned to play the violin and fence for his role as Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

I was really looking forward to this, and after it starts with some compelling duelling violins between the eponymous "Joseph" (Kelvin Harrison Jnr.) and none other than the great Mozart himself (Joseph Prowen) that features some magical mu...

Nathan

Nathan

Chevalier may not revolutionize the biographical picture genre, but it is an incredibly well-crafted film that makes for an entertaining watch. Stephen Williams' direction was one of the biggest standouts of the movie, with his use of smoot...

Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

MORE SPOILER-FREE MINI-REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/mini-reviews-2023-edition "Chevalier holds a screenplay by Stefani Robinson that doesn't escape the predictability of the usual biopic structure, but director Step...

Video Reviews

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