After much hesitation, I finally watched The Devil's Violinist last night. This two-hour film is inspired by the life of Niccolò Paganini. It presents the virtuoso at different moments in his life, and in particular his first trip to London. Here's what I thought of it.
The devil's fiddler
The film follows the career of virtuoso violinist Niccolò Paganini, from his childhood to the slow agony that finally overtakes him. The violinist passes through a period of general indifference before being literally swept away by a flood of fame. The turning point comes when he meets Urbani, a mysterious, goat-like impresario with whom he signs a strange contract. A series of twists and turns ensues, involving a host of excesses. From the shadows of anonymity to the spotlight of Europe's greatest stages, we discover the musician's ambition. This ambition fuels the flamboyance of a character who doesn't burn the fuse at both ends, but literally throws it into the flames of hell.
Although it may look like a biopic, it's actually more of a fiction inspired by true events. And it's far from faithful to Paganini's true story.
My opinion of the film
Now, I'm not going to say that this film is bad... But to be polite, I'll just say thatI didn't like it, for a number of reasons. The first being the characters: first of all, I can't really like anyone. Even if it's obvious that the direction emphasizes decadence and perversion(which I usually like!). The scenes follow one another almost indifferently, as if thethick fog of the Victorian era were covering the whole work.
In fact, there are many inconsistencies, or rather elements that are not at all convincing. I simply can't get into the very synthetic ambiences and limited acting of David Garrett.
You know what's the worst of all? Watching an actor laboriously ape a virtuoso. Well, this is precisely the point that almost makes up for the film, and undoubtedly surpasses many others: the musical performances. Although the famous musician's dramatic attempts verge on the ridiculous, they are quickly forgiven when he grabs his violin. All his ardor and impetuosity are then expressed in a romantic whirlwind. In fact, it's these intense moments that save the film - they even sent shivers of emotion down my spine at times!
