Starring: Jadwiga Baranska, Piotr Adamczyk, Danuta Stenka Directed By: Jerzy Antczak Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Mti Home Video Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: November 30, 2004 Running Time: 118 minutes
Desired Love...did anyone give or receive it? First of all, the sound was terrible. The actors either whispered or shouted. I think there was only one guy (Alberto? don't know what his function in Chopin's life was)who spoke normally. I was either turning the sound way up or way down.
The subtitles are only in Spanish, which helped a little, but wasn't always accurate.
There wasn't much story there at all. Chopin and Sand catch each other's eye in a courtyard, later she sees him play, and sends him a note. Although she was speaking English, her accent made it impossible to understand her - she was one of the whisperers...except when she was shouting that Chopin drove her crazy with his refusal to answer her questions...anyway, I did not understand the attraction on either's part. They meet and immediately move out to the country, together with her children (they screech - sound DOWN). They get kicked out of one house, I forget why, and find another. Sand's son Maurice skulks around spying all the time, this gets on Chopin's nerves. Sand wants everybody to get along, but it's like having three kids instead of two...Chopin does not see why her children need any attention from her and he resents them. Maurice is sick with jealousy of Chopin, and Sand tries to soothe him. Chopin appears to never have shown any interest in the children...so Sand is running between her children and him and trying to please everyone (for what?)...Chopin is diagnosed with TB, and the doctor tells Sand it is very contagious and to get her kids out of there. She makes no comment...later daughter tells her suspicions that Chopin is consumptive and they shouldn't be around him...Sand ignores her. Chopin doesn't start coughing (loudly - sound DOWN)until the very end of the movie. Chopin and Sand have an argument and he tells her to get out. End of scene.
Next scene "Years Later" we are told....how many years, or what transpired in those years, we are not told. Chopin and Sand are living together with the kids...daughter Solange has grown and now considers herself in love with Chopin because he is a "genius." Tries to seduce him, accuses Mom of hiring a maid to have sex with him because she no longer wants to...Sand just wants to be "friends"...huh? What happened to their great passion? Chopin's stupid butler is loudly clanging pans together and laughing (sound DOWN) which drives Maurice crazy and I don't blame him...too much noise already in this freaking movie. Maurice says he has the authority to throw Chopin out....maybe this is Maurice's property? We are not told. There's lots of running through the field, running down the road (fast forward!) and much screeching with laughter (sound DOWN)for no apparent reason. Also lots of closeups on Chopin's face looking all gooey-eyed, remembering times with his family.
The messed up sound was an extra annoying punishment on top of a completely dull movie. I cared about no one in this film, and I saw no motivation for Sand to to kowtow to the spoiled, whiny Chopin as she did.
I think the kids are the ones who desired love.
can't watch it This DVD won't play in my player. And since I opened it I can't return it. Wasted money.
Not an entertaining Movie. This movie is in no way is as good as "A song to remember" with Cornell Wilde.I don't understand how a polish made movie woulg present Chopin in such a way it did even if it was true. I prefer to see the more positive side of Chopin and his greatness.
A most awkward film: CHOPIN,DESIRE FOR LOVE There is not a lot of information about the relationship between pianist Frederic Chopin and authoress George Sand because their correspondence was destroyed. Hence, we have people conjecturing screenplays to tell their story.There are three cinematic attempts that are out there to tell this story.They all fall short of any truth.Thank God Frederic Chopin's music is wonderful,because this film about his life and "love" with George Sand from Polish writer/director Jerzy Antczak is an awkward and unfulfilling piece of Period Cinema that is simply put,bad!.The screenplay is disjointed and flips from person to place with no warning.The acting and voiceovers are atrocious.It would have been better had it been recorded in Polish with subtitles. This film tries to be an AMADEUS, but can never rise to such heights.No DVD extras.Not a recommended rental or purchase. IMPROMPTU is a far more engaging and better acted film concerning Chopin and Sand.A SONG TO REMEMBER is lush 1930's Hollywood nonsense.
EVEN FOR THE MUSIC ALONE: IT'S WORTH IT!!!; WONDERFUL MOVIE!!! The music of Polish Composer Chopin makes this DVD worth it. The story is excellent and truly captures Chopin (I've read many books on Chopin). Cinematogrophy, scenery costuming are so real! With all its great points, again, the music, all by itself, is worth it - so beautiful; so Chopin!!! It will take you away; A must for Chopin fans, lovers of beautiful music and, of course, all piano enthusiasts and teachers. Bravo!
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
