SYNOPSICS
Il était une fois Jean-Sébastien Bach (2003) is a French movie. Jean-Louis Guillermou has directed this movie. Christian Vadim,Elena Lenina,Frédérique Bel,Jean Rochefort are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2003. Il était une fois Jean-Sébastien Bach (2003) is considered one of the best Drama movie in India and around the world.
The film opens with a young Johann Sebastian Bach. , who has just been struck by the first of several painful blows of fate , because he is an orphan at age ten so he is seen walking with his older brother since he will live with him . Bach will learn from his older brother because he is also a professional musician . Bach eventually strikes out on his own and takes the first of several professional music positions . Eventually tragedy strikes him a second time but Bach responds by making more music that , as time has tested it well , has several centuries later still not only stood the test of time but become part of the classical musical world's pantheon. , as proven by so many of his pieces being played year after year on multiple continents .
Il était une fois Jean-Sébastien Bach (2003) Trailers
Il était une fois Jean-Sébastien Bach (2003) Reviews
Did I watch the same film as everyone else? Don't listen to these negative reviews.
What we have is a docudrama about Bach in French with narration in English, and English subtitles. I found the film to be interesting enough and depicts Bach's world rather well. I really felt transported back to the 18th century. The film sticks to the facts like a good documentary would. No Hollywood crap in this story, which may be why people disliked it, they perhaps want a big budget Hollywood drama about Bach, not a docudrama style of film. Maybe the fact its foreign throws people off? I don't know, I watch so many foreign films they seem normal to me. There's so much of Bach's music in this film its great. How any Bach fan could not appreciate this film is beyond me, and the acting is fine. I equate bad films with being something I can picture on MST3K, this isn't even close to the same ballpark as those types of films. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but if your a true Bach fan don't let these bad reviews steer you away from this film. Ultimately I rank films by the fact of would i ever want watch it again? And in the case of this film I would.
I don't agree with the other reviews
I have little knowledge about Johan Sebastian Bach, but I liked this movie anyways. Maybe it was because I wasn't critical? The costumes were nice and I liked the actors. It was interesting that he was such a humble man. And that he loved both his wifes. I also liked that he seemed like a good father. I think his brother was a little arrogant. I wonder what kind of music Bach would have listened to had he been transported with a time machine to our time? I wish there were movies about other famous people like this. I am happy I am not living in the 17th century, because I think it would be nasty to be operated on by a quack doctor.
Bad film, but good documentary
When I went to see this film, I didn't thought I was going to see a masterpiece, I expected to see a documentary on JS. Bach. Well, I must say I got it. I found the actors rather bad (except for a few exceptions), Jean Rochefort (whom I do like) is not as convincing as expected, the quality of the image is rather poor (well, do bear in mind it's a small French film), there's nothing special in the filming itself, and if you don't love music you'll get bored very quickly because of long "concert" scenes. Things have been done rather quickly and even though the costumes are good, all efforts to make the spectator move to the XVIIIth century have not been made, we can even see some cars in the background of a scene! The worst point of this film is music/image synchronization. It's really obvious that actors are not playing the music (except in one or two scenes). Well, I'm a pianist myself so maybe as a non musician you won't notice anything. But when Bach conducts the orchestra and his beating with his arms is not synchronized with the music, I guess even non musicians could get annoyed. You can't compare this film to others on the same theme (musicians' biographies) such as "Amadeus" or "Immortal Beloved" (that's on Beethoven), those are films while this one is a documentary. After all, if you're interested in Bach's life and too lazy to read a book about it, then you could go and see it.
I love this movie!
J.S. Bach is my favorite composer and this movie explored his life in a way I never took the time to do myself. I ran into this movie by accident and it was a pleasant surprise. I now have a great appreciation of the man behind the music. It also gives a hint of what it was like for people of his time - a nice period piece. For example: I didn't even know he had married. Another example: I didn't know he was incarcerated. Hmm... ex con? That's not really descriptive of his incarceration, but a fun twist on this footnote! It's a must see for any J.S. Bach fan!
Bad Movie, great Set Decoration and Art Department
The movie's script seemed like one of those poor movies one would be subjected to in American schooling. The narrative voice overs lowered the film down to documentary wishing to be a movie. Also the casting was not coherent with the historical figures. This movie misses the essence and passion of classical musics greatest composer. This could have easily been a story as good or greater then Amadeus. The films sole saving grace is the great decor. The costume is very good also. All the sheet music and set decoration is well done. There is a lot of attention and creativity in the details (after a while it was all I was watching in the movie). I watched "the making of" on the DVD to try and understand the production. I think it is safe to say it was at least the script... One telling moment was when the director is speaking with the chief decorator. They are discussing how great the set design is and taking a lot of credit, when it is obvious neither one are actually aware of the details of what they are talking about. So the assistant set decorator comes over and explains it... they go on to say in fact the assistant had done all the work discussed. I guess I would be sure to hire the assistant next time. :) I sincerely hope that someone takes up the biographical subject matter of Bach and does it correctly. It has a great potential... keep the decor and set design - get a dramatic and less narrative script and go from there. ... And now we continue in present day...