The Red Violin
300 years of a remarkable musical instrument. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin has traveled through Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake. In Montreal, Samuel L Jackson plays an appraiser going over its complex history.
Critics Sentiment
Kaspar Weiss collapses and dies from heart defect during recital
Samuel L Jackson's character successfully acquires the violin at auction
The film drops significantly from the emotionally powerful Vienna climax to the darker, more depressing Oxford segment where passion turns destructive.
The Red Violin maintains strong audience appreciation throughout most of its runtime, with particular peaks during the tragic Vienna orphanage story and emotional moments revealing the violin's origins. The film's ambitious multi-century scope and beautiful musical score consistently impress viewers, though the modern-day auction conclusion divides critics and slightly dampens the overall impact.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 58
Samuel L. Jackson
Charles Morritz (Montréal)
Carlo Cecchi
Nicolo Bussotti (Cremona)
Irene Grazioli
Anna Bussotti (Cremona)
Anita Laurenzi
Cesca (Cremona)
Tommaso Puntelli
Apprentice (Cremona)
Aldo Brugnini
Assistant (Cremona)
Samuele Amighetti
Boy (Cremona)
Jean-Luc Bideau
Georges Poussin (Vienna)
Christoph Koncz
Kaspar Weiss (Vienna)
Clotilde Mollet
Antoinette Pussin (Vienna)
Florentin Groll
Anton von Spielmann (Vienna)
Johannes Silberschneider
Father Richter (Vienna)
Rainer Egger
Brother Christophe (Vienna)
Paul Koeker
Brother Gustav (Vienna)
Wolfgang Böck
Brother Michael (Vienna)
Josef Mairginter
Brother Franz (Vienna)
Johan Gotsch
Funeral Monk (Vienna)
Geza Hosszu-Legocky
Gypsy Violonist (Vienna)
David Alberman
Gypsy Violonist (Vienna)
Arthur Denberg
Prince Mansfeld (Vienna)
Crew
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