Chevalier, review

Chevalier

UK release: 9 June 2023

Director: Stephen Williams

Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr, Samara Weaving, Minnie Driver

Review by Abiba Coulibaly

Chevalier is an upcoming biopic chronicling the life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges; born to a slave in Guadeloupe, he rose to the upper echelons of Parisian society as a violin virtuoso, once described by John Adams as “the most talented man in Europe.” 

The film depicts his challenges as a Black man in 18th century France, alongside heated professional drama, love affairs and grand ambitions. Bologne finds himself competing with Mozart, navigating the court of Mary Antoinette, dodging older suitors and pursuing a married one, while chasing his ultimate dream: becoming the next leader of the prestigious Paris Opera. Unfurling adjacent to his personal turmoil is the wider political context approaching the French Revolution, which toppled the country’s monarchy and would inspire slave rebellion in French colonies.

Whereas Bridgerton opted for creative licence and colour-blind casting, Chevalier boasts historical accuracy.

The eponymous lead is played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. (recent roles include Fred Hampton in The Trial of the Chicago 7 and B.B. King in Elvis), who delivers an imperfect protagonist - he flaunts the Chevalier’s cocky, competitive side, while allowing his charisma and refusal to cower to prejudice shine through.

The idea that hit Harrison hardest is that Joseph lived his life for the approval of others. Harrison observes, “Joseph has trouble trusting people and for good reason.

But his inability to lead with an open-heart is his biggest problem. Because that’s ultimately how we are fulfilled, when we stop trying to manipulate ourselves to fit in.”

In that way, hair became a major piece of storytelling. Hair and makeup artist Roo Maurice noted, “for the Chevalier’s powdered wig, we tried hundreds before finding just the right look and shape. But the biggest moment is when Joseph embraces his braids in the latter part of the film...they reflect Joseph seeing himself in a new way.

Born in Guadeloupe the illegitimate son of an enslaved Senegalese woman and a white French aristocrat, Joseph grew up in Paris receiving an elite education while excelling in music and combat sport, yet constantly dealing with explicitly racist attitudes while the slave trade was at its peak. Conflict emerges as a recurring theme; whether having to fend off jealous, bigoted noblemen in a fencing duel or battling in the more elegant arena of an orchestral stage. Much has been made of the opening scene featuring the latter, in which Joseph clashes with a famed competitor, establishing his musical genius in a world that sees him as sub-human.

Leading a life at the opposite end of the spectrum from Marie Antoinette’s overwhelming power is Joseph’s mother Nanon, played by British actress Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo. The role became something larger than just one character for Adekoluejo; it became a kind of duty to the many who lived this experience. “I felt I had to not only do Nanon justice but to highlight the things she and all her ancestors went through,” she says.

For debut screenwriter Stefani Robinson (Atlanta, What We Do in the Shadows), Joseph has been an inspiration since childhood. Robinson says, “his life had so many arcs and it was extraordinarily cinematic. Joseph always felt like a rock star to me.” Director Stephen Williams returns to the big screen for the first time since 1999 following work on premium TV series such as Watchmen and Lost, and was drawn to “redressing the imbalances of historical storytelling. I’m very interested in reclaiming the stories of people who led compelling, impactful lives yet have been ignored and dismissed in the larger narrative.”

Chevalier had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and was dubbed as “brim[ming] with intrigue, romance, and sumptuous music — turning the spotlight on a brilliant Black artist whose legacy has been woefully obscured.”