This visually enthralling film traces the relationship between the wealthy Coco Chanel and the rising composer Igor Stravinsky. After a brief scene in which we meet Chanel's lover Boy Capell just prior to his death in an auto accident, the story proper opens on the night of the premiere of LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS, probably the most scandalous event in the history of dance. Chanel is in the audience and is impressed with Stravinsky's score despite the debacle swirling throughout the theatre.
Polish actor Marek Kossakowski appears briefly as Vaslav Nijinsky, seen in the theatre wings during the SACRE premiere's chaos trying desperately to keep the dancers on cue. Later, in a brief shot after the SACRE disaster sinks in, we see a glint of madness in Nijinsky's eyes.
Composer and couturier meet at a party and a mutual attraction hangs in the air. Chanel invites Stravinsky to stay at her palatial country home and when he suggests that he must bring his wife and children along, Coco sees no problem with that arrangement. The Stravinskys move in.
Elena Morozova plays Madame Stravinsky who suffers in silence as her husband and Coco spend increasing amounts of time together. Stravinsky's wife recognizes the affair because - as she says to her husband - "Your music has become more sensuous."
In one scene rife with sexual tension masked in musical concentration, Stravinsky gives Chanel a piano lesson. The entire film is laced with excerpts from Stravinsky's scores.
Coco's quest for her signature perfume runs as a thread thru the film. Finally, at Grasse, she narrows it down to several samples. After softly inhaling each concocted fragrance, the finally exclaims: "This one!" "Ah, number five!" the parfumier replies.
The jealousy of the composer's wife and the inability of Igor to make a clear choice between the two women lead to the denouement. Stravinsky to Chanel: "You're not an artist. You're a shop-keeper."
Cast
- Anna Mouglalis - Coco Chanel
- Mads Mikkelsen - Igor Stravinsky
- Elena Morozova - Catherine Staravinsky
- Natacha Lindinger - Misia Sert
- Grigori Manoukov - Sergei Diaghilev
- Rasha Bukvic - Grand Duke Dimitri
- Nicolas Vaude - Ernest Beaux
- Anatole Taubman - Boy Capel
- Erick Desmarestz - The Doctor
- Clara Guelblum - Milène Stravinsky
- Maxime Danielou - Théodore Stravinsky
- Sophie Hasson - Ludmilla Stravinsky
- Catherine Davenier - Marie
- Olivier Claverie - Joseph
Read about my favorite incarnation of RITE OF SPRING here.
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