Chevalier (2022)
(Stephen Williams, US 2022, 108 min., 35mm)
Based on the true story of the titular French-Caribbean musician Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Kelvin Harrison, Jr. relies on his musical background to play the title role. Bologne travels to Paris in the 1770s and interrupts a concert by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Joseph Prowen). Requesting to accompany Mozart, the two take part in a musical duel that impresses both composer and audience. With an audience to the royal court, Bologne awes Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) by winning a fencing duel and she presents him with the title of Chevalier. His ultimate goal is to become director of the Paris Opera, but political forces conspire to keep him from his dream. Trained in piano and trumpet, Harrison learned enough violin in two months to be extremely credible as the famed musician.