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The Red Violin (Original title)Le Violon Rouge (Alternative title)Il Violino Rosso (Alternative title)
Dates: 1998 (Copyright), 09 April 1999 (Release)

Countries: Canada, Italy, USA, United Kingdom

Director: François Girard

Synopsis: Drama. The film centres on a valuable violin which is up for auction in Montreal; the instrument becomes the centrepiece which links together several stories.Synopsis: In 17th century Cremona, a master craftsman makes a violin for his unborn child. When tragedy strikes and his wife and child die, he adds their blood to the varnish of the instrument. The story follows the violin as it travels across continents and centuries, changing hands many times, until it comes up for auction in modern day Montreal.

Genre:
Drama
Credits (203)
With the Assistance of: Sony Classical, Production Company/©: Rhombus Media, Production Company/©: Mikado Film Srl (Rome), Sidecar Films and TV Srl, ©: Red Violin Productions, In Association with: New Line International, In Association with: Channel Four Films, In Association with: CTCPF, In Association with: Téléfilm Canada, In Association with: CityTV, In Association with: Bravo! New Style Arts Channel, Sony Classical, Production Company: Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit Program, Producer: Niv Fichman, Producer (Oxford Unit): Debra Hauer, Producer (Shanghai Unit): Charles Wang, Producer (Additional Photography): André Viau, Co-producer: Daniel Iron, Co-producer: Giannandrea Pecorelli, Line Producer: Barbara Shrier, Associate Producer: Danny Krausz, Production Co-ordinator: Johanne Pelletier, Associate Producer (Rhombus Media): Sheena Macdonald, Associate Producer (Rhombus Media): Barbara Willis Sweete, Larry Weinstein, Unit Manager (Cremona): Christina Romagnoli, Unit Manager (Campo Tures): Riccardo Folgore, Unit Manager (Oxford Unit): Simon Crawford Collins, Unit Manager (Shanghai Unit): Benny Zhu, Unit Manager (Montréal Unit): Marie-Hélène Coutu, Production Manager (Italy Unit): Tommaso Calevi, Production Manager (Vienna Unit): Robert Opratko, Production Manager (Shanghai Unit): Shen Xiyuan, Production Manager (Montréal Unit): Lucie Bouliane, Production Manager (Additional Photo): Frédéric Desproges, Production Supervisor (Oxford Unit): Sophie Gardiner, Production Supervisor (Shanghai Unit): John Zhong, Production Services (Italy Unit): Sidecar Films and TV Srl, Production Services (Vienna Unit): DOR Film Produktiongesellschaft, Production Services (Oxford Unit): Euphoria Films, Production Services (Shanghai Unit): Shanghai Film Studio, Production Services (Shanghai Unit): China Film Co-production Corporation, Salon Films (H.K.) Ltd, Production Services (Additional Photo): Cinélande et Associés, Production Co-ordinator (Oxford Unit): Helen Pratt, Rebecca Cotterill, Location Manager (Italy Unit): Leonardo Caracciolo, Location Manager (Vienna Unit): Andreas Payer, Location Manager (Oxford Unit): Phil Houman, Location Manager (Shanghai Unit): Chen Yong, Location Manager (Montréal Unit): Michèle St-Arnaud, Post-production (Supervisor): Peter Alves, Post-production (Rhombus Media): Jody Shapiro, Assistant Director: Jennifer Jonas, Assistant Director (China/Shanghai Unit): David Webb, Assistant Director (Italy Unit, 1st): Olivier, Assistant Director (Italy Unit, 2nd): Carlo Paramidani, Assistant Director (Vienna Unit, 2nd): Jeanette Rosenmaier, Assistant Director (Vienna Unit, 3rd): Michael Kreuzer, Ulrike Weiss, Assistant Director (Oxford Unit, 2nd): Toby Sherbourne, Assistant Director (Oxford Unit, 3rd): Daniel Shepherd, Assistant Director (Shanghai Unit, 1st): Cheng Jiaji, Assistant Director (Shanghai Unit, 2nd): Kim Fung-yip, Xie Mingxiao, Assistant Director (Montréal Unit, 2nd): Buck Deachman, Assistant Director (Montréal Unit, 3rd): Trent Hurry, Continuity: Marie La Haye, Casting (Director): Deirdre Bowen, Casting (Additional): Mary Selway, Casting (Additional): Sylvie Brocheré, Casting (Additional): Rita Forzano, Casting (Additional): Andrea Kenyon, Lucie Robitaille, Casting (Vienna Unit): Markus Schleinzer, Daniela Stiebitz, Casting (Oxford Unit, Extras): Claire Moseley, Written by: Don McKellar, François Girard, Dialogue Adaptation (Italian): Sandro Veronesi, Dialogue Adaptation (German): Michael Sturminger, Dialogue Adaptation (French): Bernard Minoret, Dialogue Adaptation (Chinese): Wang Xiaoshuai, Director of Photography: Alain Dostie, Additional Photographer: Sylvaine Dufaux, 2nd Unit Operator (Oxford Unit): Ernest A. Vincze, Documentary Stills: Jacques-Yves Gucia, Digital Effects: Buzz Image Group, BI (Digital Effects Executive Producer): Jean Raymond Bourque, BI (Digital Effects Producer): Yves Laniel, BI (Digital Effects Director): Stéphane Landry, BI (Digital Effects Artistic Director): Pedro Pires, BI (Digital Effects CGI Animator): Dominic Daigle, BI (Digital FX Particle Effects Design): François Lord, Robin Tremblay, BI (Digital Effects Compositing Artist): André Montambeault, BI (Digital Effects Compositing Artist): Mathieu Dupuis, Frank D'iorio, BI (Digital Film Scanning/Recording): Serge Langlois, BI (Digital Effects System Manager): Davis Goodman, BI (Digital Effects Co-ordinator): Mylène Guérin, Graphic Artist (Montréal Unit): Denis Caspar, Editor: Gaëtan Huot, Video Post-production Services: CINAR Studios, Production Designer: François Séguin, Art Director (Italy Unit): Emita Frigato, Art Director (Vienna Unit): Susanne Quendler, Art Director (Oxford Unit): Martyn John, Art Director (Shanghai Unit): Sun Weido, Art Director (Shanghai Unit, Associate): Li Jiajun, Decorator (Vienna Unit): Maria Blümel, Set Decorator (Oxford Unit): Judy Farr, Set Decorator (Montréal Unit): Pierre Perrault, Violin Construction: Peter Beare, Property Master (Italy Unit): Claudio Villa, Luciano Magagnini, Property Master (Vienna Unit): Adolf Nurschinger, Property Master (Oxford Unit): Ray Perry, Property Master (Shanghai Unit): Mou Zhengqi, Li Wei, Property Master (Montréal Unit): Patrice Bengle, Costume Designer: Renée April, Costume Co-ordinator (Italy Unit): Maria Galante, Costume Co-ordinator (Vienna Unit): Thomas Oláh, Head Dresser (Montréal Unit): Fabienne April, Key Dresser (Oxford Unit): Janet Moira, Wardrobe (Oxford Unit Co-ordinator): Ros Ward, Wardrobe (Shanghai Unit Mistress): Luo Taojuan, Make-up Artist (Italy Unit): Rosario Prestopino, Make-up Artist (Vienna Unit): Adolf Uhrmacher, Make-up Artist (Oxford Unit): Pat Hay, Make-up Artist (Shanghai Unit): Gui Shaolin, Make-up Artist (Montréal Unit): Micheline Trépanier, Make-up Artist (Montréal Unit, Sam Jack): Marietta Carter-Narcisse, Hair Stylist (Italy Unit): Ferdinando Merolla, Hair Stylist (Vienna Unit): Hannelore Uhrmacher, Hair Stylist (Oxford Unit): Suzanne Stokes-Munton, Hair Stylist (Shanghai Unit): Wu Kangmei, Hair Stylist (Montréal Unit): Réjean Goderre, Titles Design: Bruce Mau Design, Titles Design: Bruce Mau, Chris Pommer, Titles/Opticals: Film Effects Inc (Toronto), Music/Orchestration: John Corigliano, Music Performed by: The Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra Conductor: Esa-Pekka Salonen, Solo Violin: Joshua Bell, [Music] Vocals: Rebecca Starr, Music Producer: Matthias Gohl, [Music] Executive Producer: François Girard, [Music] Production Co-ordination: Alison Booth, Peter Cho, [Music] Editor: Todd Kasow, Additional Music Editor: Guy Pelletier, [Music] Recordist/Mixer: Joel Iwataki, [Music] Additional Engineering: James Nichols, [Music] Additional Engineering: Lawrence Manchester, Charles Harbutt, [Music] Recorded at: Abbey Road Studios, [Music] Mixed at: Manhattan Center Studios, [Music] Additional Recording at: Avatar Studios, Clinton Recording Studios (New York City), Music Consultant: Joshua Bell, Sound Design/Supervision: Marcel Pothier, Sound: Claude La Haye, Sound Post-production Services: Modulations, Re-recording: Hans Peter Strobl, Bernard Gariépy-Strobl, Studio Co-ordinator: Martin Cazes, Re-recording Studio: Marko Film, Dialogue Editor: Carole Gagnon, Sound Effects Editor: Antoine Morin, ADR Supervisor: Jacques Plante, ADR (Paris, Director): Jacques Lévy, ADR (Co-ordinator): Katarina Walsh, ADR Recordist: Jo Caron, ADR Editor: Jacques Plante, Foley Artist: Jérôme Décarie, Foley Recordist: Jo Caron, Morritz Stunt Double: Desmond Campbell, Stunt Driver: Stéphane Lefebvre, Stunt Driver: David Mckeown, Michael Scherer, Consultant (Violin): Charles Beare, Peter Beare, Music Coach (Italy Unit): Stephen Lloyd, Irene Lloyd, Stringed Instrument Consultant (Italy U): Claudio Amighetti, Dolby Sound Consultant: Eric A. Christoffersen, Auction Consultants: Christie's (New York), With Thanks to: Claire Best, With Thanks to: Pierre Latour, With Thanks to: Rolf Mittweg, Yo-Yo Ma, With Special Thanks to: David Aukin, With Special Thanks to: Roberto Cicutto, With Special Thanks to: Carmela Galano, With Special Thanks to: Peter Gelb, With Special Thanks to: Bill House, Luigi Musini, Research: Felix Williams, Dialogue Coach (Italy Unit): Stefano Voltaggio
Cast (57)
Carlo Cecchi (Cremona: Nicolo Bussotti), Irene Grazioli (Cremona: Anna Bussotti), Anita Laurenzi (Cremona: Cesca), Tommaso Puntelli (Cremona: apprentice), Aldo Brugnini (Cremona: assistant), Samuele Amighetti (Cremona: boy), Jean-Luc Bideau (Vienna: Georges Poussin), Christoph Koncz (Vienna: Kaspar Weiss), Clothilde Mollet (Vienna: Antoinette Poussin), Rainer Egger (Vienna: Brother Christophe), Wolfgang Böck (Vienna: Brother Michael), Florentin Groll (Vienna: Anton von Spielmann), Johannes Silberschneider (Vienna: Father Richter), Arthur Denberg (Vienna: Prince Mansfeld), Paul Koeker (Vienna: Brother Gustav), Josef Mairginter (Vienna: Brother Franz), Johann Gotsch (Vienna: funeral monk), Geza Hosszu-Legocky, David Alberman, Andrzej Matuszewski (Vienna: gypsy violinist), Jason Flemyng (Oxford: Frederick Pope), Greta Scacchi (Oxford: Victoria Byrd), Eva Marie Bryer (Oxford: Sara), Dimitri Andreas (Oxford: gypsy father), David Gant (Oxford: conductor), Stuart Ong (Oxford: manservant), Sylvia Chang (Shanghai: Xiang Pei), Liu Zifeng (Shanghai: Chou Yuan), Tao Hong (Shanghai: Comrade Chan Gong), Cao Kunqi (Shanghai: deputy), Han Xiofei (Shanghai: young Ming), Tan Zengwei (Shanghai: guard), Zhou Zhiqing (Shanghai: senior policeman), Wang Xiaoshuai (Shanghai: junior policeman), Qiao Zhi (Shanghai: elderly woman), Tang Ren (Shanghai: young Xiang Pei), Lidou (Shanghai: pawnbroker), Zhang Kai (Shanghai: rally speaker), Samuel L. Jackson (Montréal: Charles Morritz), Colm Feore (Montréal: auctioneer), Monique Mercure (Montréal: Madame leroux), Don McKellar (Montréal: Evan Williams), Ireneusz Bogajewicz (Montréal: Mr Ruselsky), Julian Richings (Montréal: Nicolas Olsberg), Russell Yuen (Montréal: older Ming), Sandra Oh (Montréal: Madame Ming), Paula De Vasconcelos (Montréal: Suzanne), Rémy Girard (Montréal: customs agent), Marie-Josée Gauthier (Montréal: hotel concierge), Dany Laferrière (Montréal: cabby), Dorothée Berryman (Montréal: secretary), David La Haye (Montréal: handler), Grégory Hlady (Montréal: coat attendant), Herman Meckler (Montréal: registrar), Sheena Macdonald (Montréal: Ruselsky's companion), Jody Shapiro (Montréal: autograph seeker), James Bradford (Montréal: stagehand)
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library (29)
In: Canadian Journal of Film Studies v10 n2 Autumn 2001  Pages: 6-20
Title: The RED VIOLIN, commodity fetishism, and globalizationAuthor: LONGFELLOW, Brenda Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Suggests that François Girard's The RED VIOLIN embodies a model of Canadian feature film production gounded in a trium virate of big budgets, export markets and int'l coproduction as formulated by the 1999 report of the FAC on Feature Film.

In: Film Review n601 January 2001  Page: 86
Title: The red violinAuthor: WIGMORE, Gareth Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English

In: Music from the Movies n26 Spring 2000  Page: 27
Title: Film music reviewAuthor: KEECH, Andrew Article type: Soundtrack ReviewLanguage: English

In: Filmovy Prehled n8 2000  Pages: 13-14
Title: [Filmovy Prehled - n8 2000: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: Czech

In: Score Filmmuziek Magazine n112 September 1999  Page: 17
Title: The red violinAuthor: JW Article type: Short ArticleLanguage: Dutch
Description: Review of the score for The RED VIOLIN.

In: Entertainment Weekly n517 17 Dec 1999  Page: 90
Title: The week: moviesAuthor: CAMPBELL, Caren Weiner Article type: Video ReviewLanguage: English

In: Empire n119 May 1999  Page: 29
Title: new filmsAuthor: REES, Caroline Article type: ReviewLanguage: English

In: Premiere n271 October 1999  Page: 46
Title: Le violon rougeAuthor: C.N. Article type: ReviewLanguage: French
Description: Short review.

In: Film Tutti i Film della Stagione v5 n37 Jan/Feb 1999  Pages: 45-46
Title: REVIEWSAuthor: FORCONI, Massimiliano Article type: CreditsLanguage: Italian

In: Music from the Movies n22 Winter 1999  Page: 20
Title: Film music reviewAuthor: KEECH, Andrew Article type: Short ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Soundtrack review of John Corigliano's score for The RED VIOLIN.

In: Screen International n1225 10 Sep 1999  Page: 5
Title: AngelesArticle type: NoteLanguage: English
Description: Lion's Gate has re-released THE RED VIOLIN on 230 screens in the UK.

In: Film Review May 1999  Page: 31
Title: The red violinAuthor: MOTTRAM, James Article type: ReviewLanguage: English

In: American Cinematographer v80 n2 February 1999  Page: 16,18,20
Title: Production slate: all the world's a stageAuthor: DILLON, Mark Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Alain Dostie talks about the cinematography of The RED VIOLIN which was shot on location in five different countries.

In: Télérama n2593 22 Sep 1999  Page: 46
Title: Le violon rougeAuthor: GORIN, François Article type: ReviewLanguage: French

In: Sight and Sound v9 n3 March 1999  Pages: 50-51
Title: ReviewsAuthor: KIMBERLEY, Nick Article type: CreditsLanguage: English

In: Soundtrack! The Collector's Quarterly v18 n70 Summer 1999  Pages: 46-47
Title: Scoring sessionAuthor: THAXTON, Ford A. Article type: InterviewLanguage: English
Description: John Corigliano talks about scoring The RED VIOLIN

In: Movieline v10 n10 July 1999  Pages: 38-39
Title: Novelty itemsAuthor: FARBER, Stephen Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: A discussion of the films DICK, LIMBO and The RED VIOLIN

In: Entertainment Weekly n490 18 Jun 1999  Page: 53
Title: Take a bowAuthor: SCHWARZBAUM, Lisa Article type: ReviewLanguage: English

In: Sight and Sound v9 n10 October 1999  Page: 62
Title: Video: retailAuthor: MACNAB, Geoffrey Article type: Video ReviewLanguage: English

In: Film Score Monthly v4 n7 August 1999  Page: 42
Title: Score: reviews of current releases on CDAuthor: KAPLAN, Jon Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Review of the soundtrack to The RED VIOLIN, scored by John Corigliano.

In: Screen International n1177 25 Sep 1998  Page: 23
Title: The Red ViolinAuthor: CUTHBERT, François Article type: ArticleLanguage: English

In: Cine-Bulles v17 n3 Autumn 1998  Pages: 4-5
Title: Moi, mon violon ont beaucoup voyagéAuthor: LAVOIE, André Article type: ArticleLanguage: French

In: Film Dienst v51 n24 24 Nov 1998  Page: 25
Title: Die rote ViolineAuthor: RAHAYEL, Oliver Article type: ReviewLanguage: German

In: 24 Images n95 Winter 1998/9  Page: 48
Title: Un violon sans âmeAuthor: GAJAN, Philippe Article type: ReviewLanguage: French

In: Variety 7 Sep 1998  Pages: 74-75
Title: FILM REVIEWSAuthor: STRATTON, David Article type: CreditsLanguage: English

In: Film-Echo/Filmwoche n46 14 Nov 1998  Page: 34
Title: Die rote ViolineAuthor: KLEBER, Reinhard Article type: ArticleLanguage: German

In: Screen International n1121 15 Aug 1997  Page: 10
Title: [Screen International - n1121 15 Aug 1997: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: on the state ot production

In: The Hollywood Reporter v347 n13 29 Apr 1997  Page: 22
Title: Film ProductionAuthor: FUSON, Brian Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: note cast listing

In: Screen International n1098 07 Mar 1997  Page: 20
Title: International ProductionArticle type: CreditsLanguage: English


Books held in BFI Reuben Library (2)
Title: Canada's best features: critical essays on 15 Canadian films
Author: WALZ, Eugene P  Pages: xxxv, 383 p.

Title: violon rouge
Author: GUCIA, Jacques-Yves  Pages: 159p.


Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(1)
Accessible materials to view(1)
Description: VHS cassetteBFI identifier: C-1066945
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access



Video materials(1)
Description: VHS cassetteBFI identifier: C-1066945
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access