Director Anne Fontaine (right) and actor Raphaël Personnaz at Ho Chi Minh City Theater - Photo: TO CUONG
On the evening of April 6, after the opening ceremony of the Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival (HIFF) took place at the Ho Chi Minh City Theater, the film with the very familiar name - Bolero - was premiered for the first time in Vietnam in particular and throughout Asia in general.
This is the "starting shot" of the 8-day film week in the "city that never sleeps".
Bolero is also the film representing France in the Cinematic Crossroads category of HIFF - which honors the cinema of a country or city with outstanding achievements, influence and special cultural, diplomatic and artistic relations with Ho Chi Minh City.
Immortal Bolero music
The film is set in the early 20th century and tells the story of the ironic artistic creation of musician Maurice Ravel. At the peak of his career, Ravel suddenly felt lost because music had abandoned him.
He himself is not sure if after a lifetime of attachment, he still "loves" it like he did in the beginning.
However, after many events and inspired by the women in his life, he still composed the immortal symphony Bolero - a work that went far beyond the borders of France and is widely popular to this day.
Throughout the film, every sound the composer accidentally hears or every intimate gesture he makes towards those he loves contributes to inspiring the 17 minutes of Bolero .
From the pounding sound of a mechanical workshop in the opening scenes of the film to the jazz beats in a small bar in 1980s New York or even the sound of satin sliding across a woman's skin.
Despite being constantly surrounded by lavish parties and compliments, musician Ravel still felt lost and lonely - Photo: Cinéfrance Studios
The reason Bolero surpassed Maurice Ravel's expectations and became an immortal musical work was because he unintentionally abandoned his strict standards for music theory.
During the decline of his career, he accidentally lost himself in the mundane but beautiful and authentic pleasures of the world.
Bolero also communicates with audiences around the world in a common language, becoming a song and dance sent to all humanity.
There is a very impressive statement at the end of the film: "Every 15 minutes, someone in the world is listening to Bolero composed by Ravel".
The film received enthusiastic response from the audience attending HIFF in both screenings in the first days of the film festival.
Director Anne Fontaine (left) and actor Raphaël Personnaz spent more than 30 minutes interacting with movie lovers after the screening of Bolero - Photo: TO CUONG
Confession of a lonely artist
On the afternoon of April 7, director Anne Fontaine and the actor who plays musician Ravel - Raphaël Personnaz had a small discussion after Bolero was shown again at Thiso Mall.
Here, Ms. Anne Fontaine had more time to confide in the audience, answer questions throughout the film as well as share about the filmmaking process.
Actor Raphaël Personnaz at the premiere - Photo: TO CUONG
Actor Raphaël Personnaz shares how he transformed into this complex character.
In the film, musician Maurice Ravel is portrayed as a quiet, unapproachable person who is afraid to communicate and only expresses his feelings to those he is close to and loves.
Raphaël Personnaz shared that the mentality of a genius conductor cannot be portrayed superficially, which is why he spent a year learning how to conduct an orchestra as well as studying Ravel's music.
He believes this is the best way to connect with the character he plays.
"Ravel's life was very private, so the best way to understand him is through his music.
Through music, we can feel the sensitivity in Ravel's soul, for him it was his way of expressing himself" - Raphaël Personnaz shared more.
Raphaël Personnaz became involved with Vietnamese cinema within the framework of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. He was a judge in the Caméra d'or category, the award given to young filmmaker Pham Thien An with the film Inside the Golden Cocoon .
Director Anne Fontaine is known for her bold and unconventional filmmaking style. She also has a deep appreciation for male-female relationships, which go beyond the usual standards of on-screen love.
Anne Fontaine was a critical and box office darling in the 1990s and 2000s for her complex and daring romantic films such as Dry Cleaning (1997), Coco Before Chanel (2009) and Adore (2013).
Bolero is her latest work, which premiered in March in France.
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