Chevalier (2023)
91%RT Audience Score: 97%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Chevalier is a film that is both a feast for the eyes and a thought-provoking exploration of the life of Joseph Bologne. While some critics found the film to be conventional in its structure and tone, others praised it for its imaginative vitality and electric performances. Kelvin Harrison Jr. shines in the role of Bologne, bringing to life the story of a musical genius who faced oppression and racial barriers in 18th century France. The film’s vibrant costumes and heavenly compositions add to the operatic love story that is steeped in emotionally devastating tragedy. Overall, Chevalier is a solid period piece biopic that is sure to leave audiences wanting to learn more about the fascinating life of Joseph Bologne.
Chevalier is like a history lesson, but with more drama, music, and gorgeous costumes. Kelvin Harrison Jr. gives a standout performance as Joseph Bologne, and the film does a great job of showing the barriers he faced as a black man in 18th century France. While some critics found the film conventional, I found it engaging and entertaining. Plus, who doesn’t love a good swashbuckling story? Overall, Chevalier is a must-see for anyone who loves music, history, and a good underdog story.
Production Company(ies)
Element Pictures, Searchlight Pictures, Stefani Robinson Company
Distributor
Searchlight Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Prague, Czech Republic
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
Year of Release
2023
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 47m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 2023 Wide
Genre(s)
Biography/History
Keyword(s)
Chevalier, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lucy Boynton, Joseph Bologne, Stephen Williams, Stefani Robinson, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Dianne McGunigle, Searchlight Pictures, Element Pictures, PG-13, Biography, History, Drama, Music, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Sara Michelle Fetters, Radheyan Simonpillai, Christy Lemire, Odie Henderson, Manuel Betancourt, Adam Graham, Alan French, Courtney Howard, Fletcher Powell, Carla Hay, Robert Kojder, Matt Rodriguez, critic reviews, producer names, MPAA rating, director names, writer names, actor names, Marie Antoinette, violinist-composer, fencer, falling out, ill-fated love affair, French society, African slave, French plantation owner, tour de force performance, microaggressions, invisible barriers, swashbuckling, heat, creative ecstasy, boldness, oppression, racial barriers, costume designs, historical information, period piece biopic, talents, shining performance
Worldwide gross: $3,326,964
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $3,326,964
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5,000,000
Production budget ranking: 1,858
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,692,500
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Samara Weaving – Marie-Josephine
Lucy Boynton – Marie Antoinette
Ronke Adekoluejo – Nanon
Marton Csokas – Montalembert
Alex Fitzalan – Philippe
Director – Stephen Williams
Producers – Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Stefani Robinson, Dianne McGunigle
Writer – Stefani Robinson
Director(s)
Stephen Williams
Writer(s)
Stefani Robinson
Producer(s)
Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Stefani Robinson, Dianne McGunigle
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (92) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (75) | Rotten (17)
Joseph Bologne’s story is inherently fascinating, and Williams and Robinson tell it with imaginative vitality.
April 21, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Engaging when imagining how Bologne existed in 18th century France with the understanding we have now about microaggressions and invisible barriers.
April 21, 2023 | Rating: 2.5/4
Radheyan Simonpillai
CTV’s Your Morning
TOP CRITIC
A solid and handsome portrait that’s also frustratingly conventional in its structure and tone.
April 21, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
Christy Lemire
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
Though it occasionally pulls its punches, the blows “Chevalier” does land sting and leave a mark.
April 21, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
Odie Henderson
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
As a celebration of a musical genius, Chevalier is a wildly entertaining ride, a thrilling history lesson in the making that remains as timely as ever.
April 21, 2023
Manuel Betancourt
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
“Chevalier” makes a case for its subject that his story should be told. But it feels like a starting point for learning about him, a story rather than the story, about who he was and what he meant to history.
April 20, 2023 | Rating: C
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Harrison will come away the big winner of Chevalier as he continues his ascent upward in the acting world.
April 22, 2023 | Rating: 7/10
Alan French
Sunshine State Cineplex
Chevalier is a ravishing visual feast hampered by a movie-of-the-week caliber script.
April 21, 2023 | Rating: 2 out of 5
Courtney Howard
Fresh Fiction
A story that should have been full of swashbuckling, heat, creative ecstasy, and boldness instead turns inert, muted, and moody.
April 21, 2023
Fletcher Powell
KMUW – Wichita Public Radio
Chevalier has its share of corny ‘only in a movie’ moments, but the essential truths of oppression and racial barriers in society have the most resonance in this story. Kelvin Harrison Jr. gives an admirable performance. The costume designs are gorgeous.
April 21, 2023
Carla Hay
Culture Mix
Chevalier‘s electric performances, vibrant costumes, heavenly compositions, and operatic love story steeped in emotionally devastating tragedy further a desire to seek out more historical information about Joseph Bologne
April 21, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/5
Robert Kojder
Flickering Myth
A solid period piece biopic that explores Joseph Bologne’s brilliance and talents as Kelvin Harrison Jr. shines in the role.
April 21, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Matt Rodriguez
Shakefire…
Plot
Chevalier tells the incredible true story of Joseph Bologne, an illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, who rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, complete with an ill-fated love affair and a falling out with Marie Antoinette and her court.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Kelvin Harrison Jr. delivers a “tour de force performance” as Joseph Bologne in Chevalier, according to Fresh Kernels.
Stephen-Williams.jpg
