The Cinematheque

“Elegant … Fontaine’s drama captures the composer’s life with passion, intelligence and wit.”

Ian Haydn Smith, IFF Rotterdam 2024

Paris, les années folles. Iconoclastic and acclaimed Russian choreographer Ida Rubinstein chooses Maurice Ravel to compose the music for her next ballet. She wants something bold, something sensual. Well known and established, Ravel nonetheless finds himself unable to write anything. Reliving his life’s memories, facing his old loves and personal failures, the composer will eventually give birth to his greatest composition, Boléro (1928). This sumptuous biographical drama directed by Anne Fontaine (Coco avant Chanel, The Innocents) captures the troubled composer in the process of devising one of the most famous pieces of music ever written. Raphaël Personnaz stars as Ravel, while the legendary Jeanne Balibar, a collaborator of Assayas, Desplechin, and Rivette, as well as a featured cast member of Lost Illusions (EUFF 2022), appears as Rubinstein.

In French with English subtitles

“Gently deconstructed … [Ravel’s] quiet peculiarities are sensitively underplayed by Raphaël Personnaz.” Jessica Kiang, Variety

Streaming
December 1 (Sunday) through
December 15 (Sunday)

This film is available to stream in Canada only. Streaming ticketing links will be available soon.

Please note: Tickets to in-person screenings do not include access to online EUFF offerings, nor vice versa.