Il était une fois Jean-Sébastien Bach

The movie's script seemed like one of those poor movies one would be subjected to in American schooling. The narrative voice overs lowered the film down to documentary wishing to be a movie. Also the casting was not coherent with the historical figures. This movie misses the essence and passion of classical musics greatest composer. This could have easily been a story as good or greater then Amadeus.

The films sole saving grace is the great decor. The costume is very good also. All the sheet music and set decoration is well done. There is a lot of attention and creativity in the details (after a while it was all I was watching in the movie). I watched "the making of" on the DVD to try and understand the production. I think it is safe to say it was at least the script... One telling moment was when the director is speaking with the chief decorator. They are discussing how great the set design is and taking a lot of credit, when it is obvious neither one are actually aware of the details of what they are talking about. So the assistant set decorator comes over and explains it... they go on to say in fact the assistant had done all the work discussed. I guess I would be sure to hire the assistant next time. :)

I sincerely hope that someone takes up the biographical subject matter of Bach and does it correctly. It has a great potential... keep the decor and set design - get a dramatic and less narrative script and go from there. ... And now we continue in present day...

When I went to see this film, I didn't thought I was going to see a masterpiece, I expected to see a documentary on JS. Bach. Well, I must say I got it.

I found the actors rather bad (except for a few exceptions), Jean Rochefort (whom I do like) is not as convincing as expected, the quality of the image is rather poor (well, do bear in mind it's a small French film), there's nothing special in the filming itself, and if you don't love music you'll get bored very quickly because of long "concert" scenes. Things have been done rather quickly and even though the costumes are good, all efforts to make the spectator move to the XVIIIth century have not been made, we can even see some cars in the background of a scene!

The worst point of this film is music/image synchronization. It's really obvious that actors are not playing the music (except in one or two scenes). Well, I'm a pianist myself so maybe as a non musician you won't notice anything. But when Bach conducts the orchestra and his beating with his arms is not synchronized with the music, I guess even non musicians could get annoyed.

You can't compare this film to others on the same theme (musicians' biographies) such as "Amadeus" or "Immortal Beloved" (that's on Beethoven), those are films while this one is a documentary. After all, if you're interested in Bach's life and too lazy to read a book about it, then you could go and see it.

J.S. Bach is my favorite composer and this movie explored his life in a way I never took the time to do myself.

I ran into this movie by accident and it was a pleasant surprise.

I now have a great appreciation of the man behind the music.

It also gives a hint of what it was like for people of his time - a nice period piece.

For example: I didn't even know he had married.

Another example: I didn't know he was incarcerated. Hmm... ex con? That's not really descriptive of his incarceration, but a fun twist on this footnote!

It's a must see for any J.S. Bach fan!

It's so easy to criticize a movie to its bone marrow, especially this one. Everything was wrong with it, the costumes, the historic details, the Francofication, the acting, the costumes, the absence of God in his life, the musical performances. But.. I have to say, I did finish watching the movie, while I usually am very quick hitting the stop button. Behind all the frivolous nonsense I saw a movie made by people who were madly in love with this man and his music. That's why they retraced his steps literally, because they were on a pilgrimage with a camera. It reminded me of The Mill and The Cross, which is about a painting of Pieter Breugel the Elder by that title. Although the historic depiction in this movie seems to be more accurate, that is not the point of the movie. The point is to literally enter the aforementioned painting. You can't 'enter' music like you can enter a painting, but, what these film makers seemed to be doing was to go to places where Bach was breathing hoping to inhale a few of the molecules Bach once exhaled. To me it felt that they were using the actors as a vehicle to get closer to their idol. It worked for me. Again, as a movie it wouldn't get a passing grade at any film school, but, as a means of transferring passion, it worked phenomenal, after wards I listened to Bach's music for many hours and I can't wait until Easter when the St Matthew's Passion will be performed.

I have little knowledge about Johan Sebastian Bach, but I liked this movie anyways. Maybe it was because I wasn't critical? The costumes were nice and I liked the actors. It was interesting that he was such a humble man. And that he loved both his wifes. I also liked that he seemed like a good father. I think his brother was a little arrogant. I wonder what kind of music Bach would have listened to had he been transported with a time machine to our time? I wish there were movies about other famous people like this. I am happy I am not living in the 17th century, because I think it would be nasty to be operated on by a quack doctor.