Every Violin has a story of its own...

Rating: Null/10 (5 November 2004)

The violin is my favourite musical instrument! That being the case, I wanted to watch this film ever since I heard of it. I found the story of the passage of a violin across centuries and continents just too enchanting and irresistible! I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed! This film is a feast for the senses - the cinematography, the acting and of course the music, are top notch!
I was most happy to learn that it did receive the Oscar for the Best Musical Score the year it was nominated. With the help of Joshua Bell, John Corigliano, casts a spell with his music! Interestingly the violin that Joshua Bell plays is steeped in as much intrigue and history as the Red Violin. The Gibson Stradivarius that Bell plays now was made in the early Eighteenth century(1731 if I'm not mistaken). It reached the hands of Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman from whom it was stolen by a John Altman who played it in bars for fifty years, never repairing it although it needed due care and attention. While on his deathbed, Altman is said to have confessed his crime resulting in the Stradivarius being duely restored to its original glory. And then Joshua Bell eventually became its owner, feeling an instant connection with it the day he played his very first notes on it...! Every violin does have a story of its own...