Kelvin Harrison Jr. is sensational in this new film inspired by the hidden history of African-French composer Joseph Bologne.
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Director: Stephen Williams
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With Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo
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USA 2022. 108min Digital
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Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
In 18th century France, the illegitimate son of an enslaved Senegalese woman and a French plantation owner, Joseph Bologne rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer. He forges a close friendship with Queen Marie Antoinette who appoints him Chevalier de Saint-Georges. However, her support wavers when he attempts to become the head of the Paris Opera, and becomes enamoured with a married woman. This much-needed biopic of an incredible Black virtuoso cruelly erased from history, is a gorgeous, sprawling period piece with sumptuous costumes, sweeping camera-work, and swooning romance. It thrillingly captures the high drama of Joseph Bologne’s life, and the simultaneous crumbling of the decadent, ill-fated French monarchy.
Presented as part of African Odysseys tickets here https://bit.ly/3pD9x5N