The Concert

Beautiful film. About the Russian poor concerto people from old good Balszoj. They are going to France to Variété. Le contrast between people in two countries is perfectly shown, poor people in shabby clothes, needed money should make us laugh but creates fascination. And tbe music, la music, la música.... The beautiful concerto of Czajkowski. The concert wouldnt have started, if not the deep secret of perfect ypung violinist, who plays only because she wants to know the truth about her parents. Her Russian mom was one of the best violinist in the world. Magnifying. Concert is the cure for soul, as well as whole film. Congratulations.

I don't even know where to begin... The comedy of exaggerated absurd situations that could, however, be totally real in the the post-communist russian society makes the film so lighthearted. This lightheartedness then begins to slowly intertwine with a thread of tragedy that lies behind to so well hidden secret of the connection between Andrei Filipov and Anne-Marie. And as the story goes on, the absurd, the clumsiness of the orchestra members disappears and molds into a perfect harmony that finally reveals the grand secret.

I am a sucker for classical music films (**Amadeus**, **Immortal Beloved**, **Impromptu**, **Hilary and Jackie**, **A Late Quartet**, and **Shine** to name a few). After stumbling upon a clip from _**TwoSet Violin**_ YouTube Channel, I eagerly popped **Le Concert**.

The film starts promising enough. **Andrey Filipov** (played by _**Aleksey Guskov**_) is an alcoholic janitor at Russia's Bolshoi Theater, where he was once a renowned world famous conductor. The film gradually peels off layers behind his downfall.

Sheer luck affords him an opportunity to gather his disgraced orchestra (comprised of Russian Jews) to perform at Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet.

The film falls apart once everyone gathers in Paris, where comedy overtakes the film, taking the audience into cringe inducing absurdity.

It is ultimately saved by _**Mélanie Laurent**_, whose charisma steals every scenes she's in.

As the final layers are peeled off in the final act, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, the film transforms into emotional crescendo that, while shamelessly manipulative at times, is undeniably effective and feels genuine.