Man does Kelvin Harrison Jr. have on screen charisma. How he isn't a bigger star yet I don't know. He was made for this role, the biopic of Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, who broke barriers in pre-revolutionary France before joining the revolution and mostly being erased from history. Harrison is a bold presence on the screen and creates this character to be equally bold and is just damn fascinating to watch.
Director Williams breaks out with this energetic period piece that, like its subject, breaks the mold a bit. He sticks very much to the tropes of the genre but infuses an energy that is electric throughout reminding me of the dark edginess of Dangerous Liaisons with this tale that has all the trappings, art, intrigue, affairs, and... of coarse, revolution. The story of this historical figure is perfect for a modern audience and our current understandings of heroes.
The film's main focus is being lush and gripping but it does manage to explore interesting and somewhat complex themes like the Chevalier's own reluctance to disrupt a system of oppression that he is managing to skim a bit of privilege from. But make no mistake, Chevalier is gorgeous and entertaining throughout, a big ball room spectacle that pulls no punches. From it's open scene that throws us into the lions den when Bologne bests Mozart of all people, we know we are in for a glorious tale of tragedy and heroism. And we are not let down.
Chevalier
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Sarama Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Martin Csokas, Minnie Driver, Alex Fitzalan
Director: Stephen Williams
Writers: Stefani Robinson
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