The perfect film about the perfect violin

Rating: 10/10 (17 July 2006)

A prized red violin is passed from owner to owner for 300 years before ending up at an auction house in Montreal. We witness its journey, from its creation in 17th century Italy, through an 18th century Austrian monastery to the possession of a violinist in 19th century Oxford, then to China during the Cultural Revolution and back to Montreal, where a collector (Samuel L Jackson) tries to establish its identity. Director FranÃ§oise Girard (32 Short Films About Glenn Gould) enjoys working with unconventional dramatic structure, and this episodic offering is no exception.
The narrative flutters effortlessly between a modern-day auction hall and three different centuries. The cast is rich and diverse, in particular Jackson's turn as the contemporary violin expert at the Montreal auction. The Red Violin is a little long, but such a minor flaw is easily forgivable, and the accompaniment of soaring violin music is magnificent.
10/10