The Grand Bolero

Excellent film from Italy at the San Jose film festival, CINEQUEST. During COVID lockdown, a church is closed down and hires a later middle age woman, Roxanne, a organ repairer, restorer and tuner to work on the theater pipe organ and full pipe organ. The lone priest takes in Lucia, rejected by family; not able to talk, illiterate and only understanding English as an assistant. Cold, gruff Roxanne is totally against the idea, but does work with Lucia. Soundtrack is exceptional, church pipe organ, theater organ and sounds of nature. Cinematography of foothills of the Italian Alps and the lush forest vegetation is excellent. Acting is excellent by all.

What a visually beautiful film! The cinematography was excellent and the score using all the organ music added so much to the watching experience. All the characters were engaging with worthy performances. I love when a film surprises me in the end, this one did! Very nicely done by Gabriele Fabbro for his first feature film. I look forward to more from this director.

Be me.

Bored.

"Yea I guess I'll go watch a movie." Watch The Grand Bolero.

Cry for two days.

It's fantastic. A touching film anchored by the magnetic performances of Lidia Vitale and Ludovica Mancini. The musical flow is fantastic and I've never been more draw in to a tiny corner of the world that I have no connection to but somehow felt so intimately close to. A testament to the craft on display and the overwhelming care and love put into the film.

Bravo!

Set in the backdrop of rural Italy, this thriller has beautiful cinematography and a wondrous gripping storyline.

Brilliant, raw and powerful performances from the two main protagonists, Lidia Vitale and Ludovica Mancini - with subtle direction from Gabriele Fabbro.

The story is set in a church in the covid era as a young girl takes refuge as an assistant to a pipe organ restorer - and their relationship metamorphosises with captivating results.

The powerful music of the pipe organ cleverly weaves in synchronicity with the story to keep and heighten the tension & emotions of this thriller, which works to keep the viewer invested.

Loved this film!

I loved this film!

It is incredibly poetic, beautifully shot and original.

I loved the setting: the woods, winter, Italy, a decrepit church, two organs that need fixing.. It taught me lots I didn't know about organs, and the post twists left me speechless.

The acting is really good and the tension between the character is always present and really carries the story forward, I loved the fact that no character is completely good or evil but each has clear flaws, motivations and qualities.

The score is phenomenal, it paces perfectly with the emotions and it is so rare to hear classical music, let alone played on an organ.

There are lots of metaphors but it never is preachy, I would recommend it.

All in all I found it a delicate love letter to real Italy, not the sunny Country with Vespas that Hollywood is so fond of, but the true identity of my home Country is on display in The Grand Bolero.