The Concert

“The Concert” is a movie well worth seeing. This Russian/French endeavor stars Aleksei Guskov and a wonderful actress named Melanie Laurent. Taking place in both Moscow and Paris this original story by Thierry Degrandi and Hector Cabello Reyes is well directed by Radu Mihaaileanu. A difficult film to categorize (i.e. comedy, drama, tragedy) it contains all of these elements but, most of all, it is spiritually uplifting as it covers the period in Russia from the reign of Leonid Breznev to subsequent changes in both leadership and attitude. The director takes us through a series of flash backs and current scenes to relate the story in simple and unconfusing elements as we learn the history of the musical group that is the subject of the film (hence the title) and its sparkling and vibrant last 25 minutes as we listen to Tchaikovsky’s violoin concerto and see flips and bits of scenes that tie the entire picture so that, as a result, there is finality and a recognition that music can be so basic and important a part of our lives. I give the film 3 stars with a fair warning that the movie will not only allow you to see the tugging of the strings of the violin in the concert but also the ones along your heart.