Impromptu

Rating:
Summary: Oddly engaging, but very well done
Review: No one is further removed from privileged upper class European society than I. However I found this film to be particularly satisfying as it really deals with the frailties, values, desires, and motivations that are common among all people regardless of class or surroundings. The thing that I find so telling about films like this and in a much different manner 'Barry Lyndon' is that they tend to debunk the myth of the gentile-refined aristocracy.

And even though I found the film quite pleasant and telling I am unable to give it 5 stars although it's not far from it. Certain characters (such as Mandy Patinkin's) are more accessory than integral to the true nature of the story. And by no means does his presence detract from the story but neither does it necessarily add to the story either in any significant way. (And i'm a big Mandy Patinkin fan by the way)

A very non-traditional love story.

Well worth viewing though.

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous!!
Review: Nothing before or since has brought such artists portrayal's accessible to the audience so delightfully! I believe history should be taught as this movie runs, contemporaries from the many arts and their lives entwined as they must have been. To feel as if you can actually understand these artists as human, and yet possessed of their art, impassioned. It inspired me to read George Sand's work, and i was even more so delighted with that! (But start with her first, and don't bother with the travelogues!) Such a contemporary and yet so long ago for her ideas and ideals. Very much in the way we all go through our lives loving and losing, far ahead of her time and often villifiied for it! Not one casting choice could have been better. Judy Davis inparticular. Absolutely comedic, and you'll have plenty of lines to amuse yourself with for years to come.So, i, uh, well, loved it!

Rating:
Summary: "You must win him as a man wins a woman."
Review: Poor Mallefille - you really have to pity him. Not only has he become the lover of the woman who employed him to tutor her children (and whose reputation is hard to take for his pathologically jealous nature anyway); only to be dumped again in short order, when she has had enough of him and his fits of jealousy. Not only does he have to watch her exchange witticisms and confidences with a host of other men, many of them belonging to the Parisian art circles where he himself will never be taken seriously (and God knows what else they may be exchanging or have exchanged in the past). Not only is he being bossed around by a woman who has taken a male pen name, insists on dressing in men's clothes, refuses to use a woman's saddle when riding (and what a horsewoman she is!) and prefers an afternoon out hunting to one sipping tea in the company of other ladies of society. No: after having taken all that, and having dared to demand the satisfaction to which he feels so justly entitled from her latest object of romantic interest, one feeble Polish composer named Chopin - only to see the guy fainting before the obligatory count has even gotten to "ten" and never raise his pistol at all - what does the wretched woman do? She seizes Chopin's weapon, fires at Mallefille, injures his arm and responds coolly, when he has finally overcome his shock and disbelief and inquires how, after all their time together, she could do such a thing: "It was easy. You're a menace to the future of art."

As this movie would have it, the above scene (never to be revealed to Chopin, in order not to hurt his pride) brought about the final turning point in one of history's most famous love stories, the romance between prolific French writer George Sand (born 1804 as Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin and married, in 1822, to Baron Casimir Dudevant, whom she left in 1835) and quintessential Romantic composer and Polish musical prodigy Frederic (Fryderyk) Chopin, six years her junior, who after a life-long struggle with his health succumbed to tuberculosis at the age of 39 years. While taking some liberties with the real course of events, "Impromptu" does portray their relationship up to their departure for Majorca, as well as the story's backdrop in 19th century Paris and rural France, with an admirably light touch and in loving detail; marvelously framed by a score consisting almost exclusively of pieces by Chopin himself. Judy Davis and a deliciously young and fragile Hugh Grant are the perfect embodiment of Sand and her "Chopinet" - she, a feisty no-nonsense woman used to fighting for her place in the world, who can nevertheless lose herself completely in Chopin's music, which she considers divine; he, sickly, uptight and at first severely taken aback by her manner which so contradicts accepted female behavior that he almost doubts she is a woman at all (a remark actually attributed to Chopin and resounding in the movie's interpretation of their initial encounter, after Sand has hidden in his room to hear him play and leaves her hiding place when he stops, pleading with him to continue, only to be rebuked by a seriously upset Chopin: "Rumor has it that you are a woman, so I must ask you to leave my private chambers. ... This is ridiculously improper - and frightening as well!")

Although Sand and Chopin were really introduced to each other by their joint friend Franz Liszt and his companion Marie d'Agoult (here portrayed with fervor and panache by Julian Sands and Bernadette Peters), the movie ingeniously places their first meeting onto the country estate of the Duke d'Antan and his wife Claudette, self-declared patroness of the arts (played by an exuberant Emma Thompson, who milks the role for all it's worth and then some), who has assembled the cream of the Parisian arts scene; besides Chopin, Liszt and Marie most notably Sand's former lover, poet Alfred de Musset (Mandy Patinkin) and painter Eugene Delacroix (Ralph Brown). Sand, who is actually not among the invitees, spontaneously proceeds to invite herself when she hears that Chopin will be among the guests, because she has wanted to meet him ever since she first heard him play in the Paris salon of Baroness Laginsky (Elizabeth Spriggs) - thus guaranteeing plenty of tumultuous scenes between herself and de Musset as well as between the latter and Mallefille (Georges Corraface), who (likewise uninvited) appears shortly after her in dogged pursuit of the woman who has recently dumped him; a fact he is patently unwilling to accept.

Although initially rejected by Chopin, Sand is not in the least willing to give up on him; and she greedily accepts Marie's advice after their return to Paris: "He is not a man; he's a woman. ... You must win him as a man wins a woman. If anyone can do it, you can." And while Marie's counsel is far less disinterested and well-meaning than George thinks, in the end her new tactics do the trick; albeit only after a series of heated encounters between the two would-be lovers, Chopin and de Musset and Chopin and Marie; and not before Sand has lost her mother (Anna Massey), her most undying champion. Chopin and Sand eventually become friends and - we are told - finally lovers after Mallefille has forever left the battlefield in shame.

Although there would be an estrangement between the star-crossed lovers shortly before Chopin's death, he did remain, as Sand wrote in her autobiography, the greatest love of her life; and in turn, the years they spent together are considered by many the most fertile years of his musical career. They both will live forever in their works - and this movie, which unfortunately went virtually undiscovered upon its 1991 release, is a wonderful, gentle reminder of the wealth of creativity and emotion they had to share.

Rating:
Summary: George Sand And Chopin: Romantic Comedy
Review: This 1991 movie directed by James Lepine is an absolute charm. It's a romantic comedy, it's a historical piece and a colorful introduction to the music of Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt and the life and writings of Madame George Sand Aurore Dudevant. The romantic comedy is well-written, the actors are doing top-notch performances and the music is heaven. I don't know yet if there is a soundtrack but it's likely there is and it must be beautiful. George Sand was the pen name of the feminist writer Aurore Dudevant who scandalized proper Victorian society in the 19th century by dressing as a man, smoking cigars, abandoning her wealthy and respected husband to live the liberal lifestyle of a bohemian writer of novels. She had many lovers, including Alfred De Musset (who is played in this film by Mandy Patinkin)and her most famous lover, Frederic Chopin. It is their love story that this movie focues on. Stars Judi Davis as George Sand, Hugh Grant as Chopin and Bernadette Peters as the Countess Marie D'Agoult. I will not give away the answer. But Chopin, though he never married Sand, was greatly influenced by his knowing her and his most productive period of composing piano music came after their heartbreaking seperation. Chopin died young of tubercolosis. It's very possible that he loved George Sand but I'm thinking that for Sand, no man was really ever good enough for her. After all, she was the embodiment of the feminist, independent single woman who did'nt really need marriage or love.

Judi Davis is doing an Oscar winning performance as George Sand, who is ultimately a woman who belongs to no one and who lives life to the fullest. She has raised children to be as creative as she is and taken full responsibility for her children as well as for her elderly mother. Bored of the dull life after her divorce from the father of her children, she takes her current lover to the French countryside. There, she is invited by a wealthy hostess to her estate. The drama heightens in a soap opera sort of way when none other than Alfred De Musset the poet and ex-lover of Sand shows up. Her jealous boyfriend, Malfitte, challenges him to a duel. Meanwhile, Sand has fallen for Chopin, who is her polar opposite. While she is free, intense, devil-may-care and very healthy, Chopin is reserved, emotional, sensitive, refined and suffering of bad health with tubercolosis. Their relationship is accurate to truth but not in the way the film depicts. The disaster that happens in the country estate, comedically produced, never really happened. Bernadette Peters delivers a terrific performance as well as the scheming and bitter Marie D'Agoult, whose own marriage to Franz Liszt after having many children with him, including Cosima who later marries Richard Wagner, but that's another story and even another movie. This is a well-done movie with lots of charm and witty scenes. I especially enjoyed the entire portion in the country estate, in which the artist Delacroix, Franz Liszt and Chopin discuss over dinner the existence of God in front of a priest, put on a satirical farce play that ends badly and Sand's adorable children who are always finding some excuse to play with explosives and dynomite.

Rating:
Summary: GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN...
Review: This film centers around the bold and controversial nineteenth century author, George Sand, an unconventional woman who dressed as a man and flouted the social and sexual mores of her day. It is a wickedly funny film: sharp, biting, and clever.

The sexually rapacious Ms. Sand (Judy Davis) sets her sights on the frail and finicky Frederic Chopin (Hugh Grant). Leaving a trail of outraged lovers in her wake, she devotes herself, heart and soul, to making Chopin her lover. Along the way, she finds obstacles thrust in her path, usually placed there by her erstwhile friend, Marie D'Agoult (Bernadette Peters), who is also smitten with Chopin, although she, herself, is the mistress of Franz Liszt (Julian Sand).

Ms. Sand contrives to be with Chopin at all costs, in her quest to wrest his affections and capture his heart. She even brazenly invites herself for a stay in the country at the home of the Duchess D'Antan (Emma Thompson), once she discovers that Chopin is to be a guest, along with other artists of the period. This makes for some wickedly madcap moments. As her quarry makes Ms. Sand pull out all the stops, the viewer will be delightfully entertained by their antics.

Judy Davis is sublime as the controversial Ms. Sand, infusing the role with intelligence and charm. Hugh Grant is perfect in the role of Chopin, who is overwhelmed by the persistent Ms. Sand. Emma Thompson, in one of her earlier roles, is absolutely hilarious as the Duchess D'Artan, the patroness of the arts, playing her character with complete comedic relish. The rest of the supporting ensemble also provide stellar performances. All in all, this is a very enjoyable and unusual period piece.

Rating:
Summary: A Spontaneous Life
Review: This is a nicely done period movie depicting the life and loves of the controversial 19th century French writer George Sand.

George Sand was one of the world's first feminists, preferring to personify the life of a male rather than cower to the nitwit life of a woman in the 19th century. Sand chose to divorce an abusive husband, make a living as a writer and stand up for her beliefs although they were harshly criticized during her era. As a writer Sand took on the flaws of society in her characters and scolded the public in her subtle but effective way. As a woman Sand was far from beautiful but she had numerous affairs of the heart with many famous and powerful men. She managed to thrill her lovers with her mind and her ever present need to be free from constraints, preferring to set her lovers free yet they always came running back for more or went crazy doing so. Needless to say Sand is an extraordinarily interesting subject but to really know her one must read about her because she is far too limited by film.

This film is wonderful but incomplete. Judy Davis plays the great George Sand about as perfectly as she can be played on film. Davis takes on the famous characteristics of Sand, the tomboyish walk, her bold feministic approach and her enduring passion for life and love. In this film Sand is introduced only briefly as a young girl without much explanation as to how she arrived at her independent nature. Sand is already a successful writer dividing her time between her estate, Nohant, and Paris. She is frustrated because she has fallen out of "like" with her children's tutor (who continues to pursue her madly), but soon becomes infatuated with Frederic Chopin, a frail and sickly Polish composer. As she pursues Chopin, she continues to deny former lovers such as poet Alfred de Musset. The film is actually quite entertaining although much of the history involved in these famous relationships is lost in the effort. Hugh Grant is convincingly fragile and helpless as Chopin. Mandy Patinkin insanely perfect as Alfred de Musset. Bernadette Peters is great as the backstabbing and snide social climber, Marie D'Agoult. But this movie would not be complete without the comic wit of Emma Thompson as a rich but bored Duchess who preys on the artistic talent willing to spend time at her estate.

George Sand is too much woman to be contained in one film but she is almost captured in Judy Davis's performance. Had the filmmakers made this movie into a mini-series instead I believe it would have done history and Ms. Sand more justice. However this glimpse into the life of an amazing individual who stood alone against her own machine will inspire you to read and search for more details about Sand's fabulous life.



Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully funny and touching movie.
Review: This is a wonderfully funny and touching movie about a very complicated relationship. It is one of the very best "great musician" stories and deserves to be re-issued by the studio.

Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: This is an excellent film which depicts with some humor and intrigue the life of Chopin. Hugh Grant and Judy Davis play fantastic parts. One actually gets a feel for the era in which Chopin lived. The music is stupendous and invites an even greater appreciation for Chopin's talents.
Thoroughly enjoyable!

Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: This is an excellent film which depicts with some humor and intrigue the life of Chopin. Hugh Grant and Judy Davis play fantastic parts. One actually gets a feel for the era in which Chopin lived. The music is stupendous and invites an even greater appreciation for Chopin's talents.
Thoroughly enjoyable!

Rating:
Summary: Funny, elegant and historically correct
Review: This Masterpiece Theater production of the love story between novelist George Sand and composer Frederic Chopin is funny, well-written and historically correct. It is played out in this film mostly for fun.

Judy Davis does a good job as Sand, the bawdy author that is thrown over by the handsome composer. Hugh Grant is exceptional as the sickly, understated, prissy and overdressed Chopin. His retrenchment at Sand's initial overtures is done tastefully and with powerful historic accuracy. Perhaps the weak point of the film is the lateness of their connection, occuring not so far in advance of Chopin's real life death at age 39 from tuberculosis.

The supporting cast is wonderful in this film. Julian Sands not only looks like Franz Lizst, he plays the vacuous visionary well. Bernadette Peters is in fine form as mother to Lizst's children with her own agenda on Chopin. Mandy Patinkin steals scenes regularly in his portrayl as Sands' lover and father of her children, while Ralph Brown does good work as Chopin's real life friend, the French revolutionary artist Eugene Delacroix. Emma Thompson also plays a very funny role in the cast.

Movies about classical musicians are never based in humor and are rarely as successful as this one. While "Amadeus" scored with fans and critics alike, it was made on a budget perhaps 100 time greater than that of "Impromptu". Compared to the cinematic abomination of Beethoven's life, "Distant Beloved", and the tawdry Ken Russell fantasy about Tchaikovsky, "The Music Lovers", this movie indeed sits atop an elevated pedestal.

People that love classical music and/or 19th century period reenactments, and people that enjoy subtle humor, will all get a kick from this movie. If that's you, purchase this with haste and get on with the enjoyment today.