The Concert

Bea says: Seen in rather delightful circumstances at our local Town Hall as part of a Town Twinning scheme, and I was able to enjoy a glass of red wine and cheese as I settled into my seat, laid out caberet-style.

The Concert, although ostensibly a French film, is largely in Russian and about life in Russia in the past, and currently.It centres on the conductor and members of a once-famous orchestra, who fell out of favour during the Brezhnev regime and were declared Enemies of the People – and yes, some went to Gulags. The rest disappeared into a life of obscurity and manual, dead-end jobs. Until, by chance, they get the opportunity to impersonate the Bolshoi orchestra for one night in Paris.

What follows is an often slapstick comedy as they secure dodgy funds and passports, and travel to Paris to play together after a 30 year break. However, running throughout is a deeply touching storyline about the hardship and sacrifice of those who survived the communist regime,
and those who didn’t.

I won’t say too much more – if you see it yourself I don’t want to spoil the storyline. But see it if you can – it is beautifully filmed, directed and acted, and the music is divine.

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