Official Synopsis:
An epic adventure of mystery and obsession unfolds when Charles Morritz (Samuel L. Jackson), an appraiser of rare musical instruments, discovers a one-of-a-kind, red violin at a prestigious Montreal auction house. Convinced he's found an authentic long-lost masterpiece, Morritz uncovers the spectacular journey of the priceless violin, how it changed hands and the lives of all who touched it. When the violin's shocking secret is finally revealed, Morritz must wrestle with his own demons and choose between burying the truth, and risking everything.
  
Our Take:
The Red Violin is a century-spanning epic that follows the life of the perfect violin and the people who own it.  For such an ambitious project it would have been very easy for the director, Francois Girard, to give in to overindulgence.  Yet while The Red Violin is a sumptuous film, it is not needlessly such.  The aura and mystique of our titular character is maintained as we see the unfortunate events that befall each of those fortunate enough to have owned or played the violin.  The narrative structure of the film is interesting in itself as we are initially introduced to the violin at a Montreal auction house and then quickly ferried away, back in time, to when the violin was created. 

The various stages of the violin’s life are detailed in the tarot card reading done for its makers’ wife; the turning of each card serves as a neat transition to the next act.  This chronological order also sets up the film’s wonderful conclusion, in which all but one bidder is connected to the various stages of the violin’s life.  Pay close attention to the bidding and the order in which the losing bidders drop out.  It is quite fitting that as the star of the story is the violin itself, the star of the film is its soundtrack.  John Corigliano’s Academy Award winning original score holds the film together beautifully.  World-renowned violinist Joshua Bell beautifully performs all the violin solos, of which there are many.  As the violin holds the film’s story together, Bell’s solos hold together the film’s beauty.

Universal Studios last released The Red Violin in 1999 with barely any special features. Lionsgate has taken it upon themselves to rectify that by making this film one of their two inaugural releases in the Meridian Collection.  Not only does this DVD boast stronger video quality, but also the following extra features:

* Commentary by director/writer Francois Girard and Don McKellar.

* The Auction Block (18 minutes).
* The Oscar-Winning 'Chaconne (16 minutes).
* Theatrical Trailer.

The Red Violin is a film that both lovers of the visual and aural arts can enjoy together.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!          

Overall Picture:
Movie: A-
DVD: B

- Matthew Orlando
Staff Writer