Alternatetakes2

~ arts journal~ Lewis J Whittington

Alternatetakes2

Daily Archives: October 2, 2010

cinema

02 Saturday Oct 2010

Posted by alternatetakes2 in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

If you, like me, have wondered about how riotous it actually was on May 29,1913 at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris during the premiere of the Stravinsky’s ballet Le Sacre du Prentemps, the film Coco & Igor answers that question. The opening twenty minutes not only offers a thrilling and plausible depiction of the audience revolt, it is a solidly filmed reconstruction of Nijinky’s explosive ballet. Not a small achievement.

But from there, Coco & Igor, directed by French filmmaker Jan Kuneon unfolds into a pretty vapid account of the affair between fashion pioneer Coco Chanel and genius composer Igor Stravinsky. The screenplay by Chris Greenhalgh, from his novel, depicts these two luminaries with only a glancing resemblance to their actual lives.

Chanel invites the struggling Stravinsky family to take her villa outside of Paris, so Igor, a Russian émigré whose wife is terminally ill, can work and not have to worry about finances or bowing to the classical music establishment. Interesting enough, but all just a set up so Igor and Coco can orchestrate their affair. Even though she mounts him on the piano (while he’s banging out a rewrite of Le Sacre!). Despite this, there isn’t much heat to this relationship. It’s more interesting when Coco wants to derail it. Chanel may be Igor’s patron but, she cooly informs him “I won’t be your mistress.”

Stravinsky’s wife (played by Elena Morozova) tolerates the affair while battling tuberculosis. She sulks about like an escapee from a Berman film as Igor becomes a bourgeoisie bore. Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) is too handsome a version of Igor and he fails to give him much dimension past intense Dostoyevskyean looks.

Anna Mouglalis (Romanzo Criminale) does better as Coco, even with self-conscious scenes of her choosing the scent that becomes Chanel no. 5, for instance, you can’t take your eyes off of her. Her husky voice and smoldering presence captures Coco’s allure, so the clammy dialogue is easily ignored.

All poems by Lewis Whittington unless otherwise noted

Acrobats BALLET bloggerdriller bloglog booksbooksbooks classical music composers Dance dancemetros Elements film GLBT GLBTQI Jan Carroll jazz life LJW poetry LWpics LW poetry metroscape musicians operaworld photography poetry political theater politictictic Queens Stage Theater Uncategorized world of music
October 2010
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Sep   Dec »

Archives

  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Alternatetakes2
    • Join 39 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Alternatetakes2
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...