Rent Chevalier on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Stefani Robinson
Directed by: Stephen Williams
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Minnie Driver
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
Based on the factual story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an African enslaved and a French plantation owner who rises to heights in French society as a composer before an ill-fated love affair.
Verdict
This tells us about famed composer Joseph Bologne, but it doesn't animate his life. To fill in the gaps, this uses predictable story lines. It seems like an injustice to the person. This needs something more, either by delving into his emotions and goals or creating a bigger story. The discrimination he faced is terrible, but it feels his reaction to being snubbed should be more nuanced and build to something bigger. This could be a character study but instead it just shows us what happened.
Skip it.
Review
Chevalier refers to an order or knighthood. So the title of this movie while it sounds cool is generic.
This starts with Joseph Bologne (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) showing up at a Mozart concert and asking to perform. Since Joseph is black, nearly everyone doubts his ability and credibility, especially Mozart. Joseph and Mozart battle via violin with Joseph winning the crowd. This opening encapsulates Joseph. He's insanely talented but plagued by discrimination from small minded people. He's a victim of hate and racism.
While the movie shows us he's a competent fencer, in reality he was considered the greatest swordsman in Europe. The movie didn't make that clear, and I understand this doesn't want to be an action movie but this movie relegates him to stuck in a love triangle.
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| Kelvin Harrison Jr. plays Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges |
This movie need to show us who Joseph is and what he wants. If he truly just wanted to be with his forbidden love Marie-Josephine (Samara Weaving), I'd prefer this Hollywood magic the story to a man that is incredibly gifted, tired of being held back and deciding to lead a revolution. That kind of happens in this movie, but it's a side story. This movie unfortunately focuses on a romance.
Joseph must compete in a contest for the head of the Paris Opera. He creates something great, but he's shunned because he's black. Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) who he considered a friend won't help him. Predictably Joseph falls in love with his lead singer Marie-Josephine. It's a romance with all the energy of movie credits. It's predictable and happens quickly just so the movie can get on with the plot.
Joseph spirals at the many slights, attacking people verbally and physically. Despite his talents and gifts he's treated as less than, his future restrained by others. This movie does a disservice to the person. This could be a movie that could combine the fun of a man so talented with the discrimination he faced. This movie doesn't build the narrative so that we feel anything. I want to like this, but there's just not enough there.
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