The Red Violin

Name: The Red Violin
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Music
Released: June 11, 1999
Duration: 131 min
Rating: 57
Cast: Carlo Cecchi, Christoph Koncz, Jean-Luc Bideau

1999

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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The Red Violin

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: June 11, 1999 | R

Starring: Carlo Cecchi, Christoph Koncz, Jean-Luc Bideau

Summary: Francois Girard's epic follows the history of a violin as it passes over continents and through lives over the span of three centuries.

Director: François Girard

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Romance, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 131 min

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Critic Reviews

Eric Harrison

While it's possible to view this movie like a short-story collection, putting check marks beside the selections one likes best, to do so would deny the pleasure of experiencing this beautifully crafted, intricately designed story the way it was intended, as an organic whole. [11 June 1999, Calendar, p.F-8]

Edvins Beitiks

Beautiful. Simply, beautiful. Read full review

Bob Graham

Some will say this film is overly ambitious, but what the hell. The man put five years of his life into making this epic mystery. We can surely give it two hours of ours. Read full review

Stephen Holden

Wants to make a grand statement about the mystical power (both celestial and demonic) of great music. But give or take some scattered musical moments, the frame in which that message is couched is too kitschy to let that vision catch fire. Read full review

Ella Taylor

Audaciously conceived, yet at times curiously flat, at others incongruously prosaic in its emotional tone. Read full review

David Stratton

Fails on a number of counts, mostly because the individual stories aren't very gripping. Read full review

David Denby

The style of the movie veers unsuccessfully between humorless piety and opéra-bouffe clownishness. Read full review

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User Reviews

smiyamot

Nov 29, 2015

I thought this was a novel approach to a movie, to see the lives of the owners of a musical instrument over the centuries. I was amazed at the critics low score. Maybe showing the many owners made the movie too choppy and didn't allow for a more in depth look at each. But then the movieI thought this was a novel approach to a movie, to see the lives of the owners of a musical instrument over the centuries. I was amazed at the critics low score. Maybe showing the many owners made the movie too choppy and didn't allow for a more in depth look at each. But then the movie would have been 4 hours long. I don't have many DVDs but this one is in my collection.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Gamzguy17

Aug 21, 2021

It's amazing how one film can tell an engrossing life journey about an inanimate object that only becomes animated when played by the hands and talents of people based on their time period/culture. There is also a mysticism about this picture that grabs me and gets me thinking hard and IIt's amazing how one film can tell an engrossing life journey about an inanimate object that only becomes animated when played by the hands and talents of people based on their time period/culture. There is also a mysticism about this picture that grabs me and gets me thinking hard and I admire films that manage to affect me in a deep way. Just like "The Red Violin" itself, this film has a special quality about it that makes it something truly wonderful. What a lovely film!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AaronP.

Jun 10, 2007

I'm not sure why the critics of this movie don't like a story about a violin, and want it to be rewritten as a story about love and romance. This is a perfect instrument, born from the passion of a master craftsman and the blood of his sacrifice. People possess and lose it in the I'm not sure why the critics of this movie don't like a story about a violin, and want it to be rewritten as a story about love and romance. This is a perfect instrument, born from the passion of a master craftsman and the blood of his sacrifice. People possess and lose it in the course of their lives, marking them and marking the violin. If you want action, adventure, and witty dialogue, go watch SpiderMan...if you want a Buddhist-like story of transcendence and meaning, this movie might be for you.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

DawdlingPoet

Nov 24, 2021

I enjoyed this in terms of being a part period drama, with a mystery element. I liked seeing how the lives of the various owners of said violin changed in time, what happened and so on. I did find it a little confusing/frustrating due to the fact it kept changing from one timeline toI enjoyed this in terms of being a part period drama, with a mystery element. I liked seeing how the lives of the various owners of said violin changed in time, what happened and so on. I did find it a little confusing/frustrating due to the fact it kept changing from one timeline to another, from, say, hundreds of years ago and suddenly back to the modern day (or as it was when the film was released, in the late 1990s). However, my favourite aspect to this film was the actual violin recitals played throughout - I'm not a big lover of classical music but the music was/is very good.

This is an intriguing part character drama, with numerous characters depicted and also a mystery film, with some great instrumentals present. I would definitely recommend this film, yes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Honest-reviews

Jun 8, 2014

This movie may no doubt be spectacular to violin fanatics or those who can appreciate extensive periods of violin solos, but for the average viewer these moments are too numerous and repetitive and frankly boring. The ending is also poor, but overall (despite overdoing the musical scenes) itThis movie may no doubt be spectacular to violin fanatics or those who can appreciate extensive periods of violin solos, but for the average viewer these moments are too numerous and repetitive and frankly boring. The ending is also poor, but overall (despite overdoing the musical scenes) it is a watchable movie. Could have been shorter though. 4/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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