|
|
Le Maître de musique
1988 Drama / Romance
Review
Whilst it is relatively easy to be seduced by its sumptuous photography and heartrending
music, Le Maître de musique is not entirely satisfying as a piece of cinema.
In common with many of Gérard Corbiau’s films, attractive production values cannot
disguise a threadbare plot, weak characterisation and a shameless affinity for unsubtle
clichés. Although the acting is not particularly bad, the performances
do not succeed in endearing the characters to the audience. Some of the accompanying
music also appears to be ill-chosen (why is there so much Mahler? Is Corbiau attempting
a low budget re-make of Death in Venice?). Also, it is too noticeable that
the actors’ voices do not match with the singers who provided the soundtrack. Despite
such obvious faults, the film is not without its charms, and for those who like their
classical music ladled thickly over chocolate boxy period dramas, Le Maître de
musique could pass for entertainment with some artistic merit.
© James Travers 2003 Write a review for this film...User Comments
How do you rate this film?
|
Director:
Gérard Corbiau
Starring: José van Dam, Anne Roussel, Philippe Volter, Sylvie Fennec, Patrick Bauchau Synopsis
A celebrated opera singer, Joachim Dallayrac, stuns the world when he announces his decision
to retire and coach one single pupil, Sophie Maurier. Later he meets a petty
thief, Jean Nilson, whose singing voice so impresses him that he insists Jean becomes
his second pupil. Under intense pressure from Dallayrac, Jean and Sophie become
world class singers and their proximity naturally brings them together. Dallayrac
persuades his two star pupils to enter a competition hosted by the Prince Scotti, not
realising that Scotti, his erstwhile rival, intends to use the competition to exact a
cruel revenge...
Credits
 More French Drama  More French Romance |
   |
© filmsdefrance.com 2009