Excellent film about the power of music

Rating: 10/10 (7 February 1999)

Francois Girard does it again. Like his last film, 32 SHORT FILMS ABOUT GLENN GOULD, this explores the power of music (and though the subject here is classical music, it applies to all music), in a non-conventional, yet compelling way. The "red violin" is not the overwrought symbol it might have become in lesser hands, but the expression of how moved we are by music in so many ways. The way it's tied up to fate, passion, and, ultimately, life, is also well done without being pretentious. It's appropriate that the violin is used, for it's one of the most basic of instruments. The way Girard weaves in and out of flashbacks is also well done. Finally, the performances are all good, particularly Jackson as the collector. I even liked McKellar in his small role, for while he's a good writer, I'm not a fan of his acting. All in all, superb.