Movie review: Chevalier

Chevalier tells the incredible-but-true story of the "Black Mozart" Joseph Bologne - a swordsman, composer, virtuoso violinist and lover of women in the court of Marie Antoinette. Chevalier tells the incredible-but-true story of the "Black Mozart" Joseph Bologne - a swordsman, composer, virtuoso violinist and lover of women in the court of Marie Antoinette. https://youtu.be/-LtCIImfSCk Listen to the reviewWhile you're watching the film Chevalier it's easy to dismiss it as a far-fetched bit of fiction - something from the soapy Bridgerton school of drama, an excuse for a more diverse cast to dress up in an all-purpose Hollywood costume drama.Far from it. Not only is the story of Joseph Bologne true, it barely covers the facts.Bologne was born the son of a white, colonial landowner and a slave in Guadeloupe.The French were apparently rather more liberal than the rest of Europe at the time, and, as a now free Frenchman, young Joseph was admitted to a top school in Paris, where he excelled in fencing and music.Not only was he a dazzling violinist, he was also a noted composer - the rival, it's said, of another former child prodigy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.And Chevalier delights in taking a well-known scene from the film Amadeus and turning it on its head. Here, it's Mozart who gets humiliated by an unknown challenger.Chevalier is clearly out to redress the injustice of Bologne's modern obscurity. In the late 18th century he was one of the great celebrities of the age.Aside from his astonishing talent, he was young, good-looking and dashing. He moved in the highest social circles. He was even a particular favourite of Marie Antoinette.But despite being given the title of "Chevalier" - the equivalent of a knighthood - there were still limits and rules. He couldn't marry - certainly not outside his race - though apparently, this being France, a blind eye was turned on his many romantic affairs.Perhaps that's why he thought he could get away with flirting with Marie, wife of a bad-tempered nobleman.Marie is played by Samara Weaving - Australian actor Hugo Weaving's daughter - who's attracted as much by Joseph's musical talent as his striking good looks. She's an amateur singer herself.And of course, one thing leads to another.Meanwhile, at the other end of the social spectrum, an ageing diva played by Minnie Driver is furious when Joseph scorns her advances.She stirs up trouble at court, particularly when Joseph announces his ambitions to take over the Paris Opera…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details