Saturday, September 18, 2010

Overview Of The Film Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky

By Alfredo Ross

At the 2009 Cannes Film Festival in May, Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky debuted. This film is about two renowned people who were having an intense love affair. They are French designer Coco Chanel and Russian musician Igor Stravinsky.

The French film is based on the fictional novel that Chris Greenhalgh wrote in 2002. While the book and the movie are fictional, both are based on true events. Greenhalgh wrote about Coco Chanel's alleged affair with Stravinsky during the time they both lived in Paris in 1920.

This movie was released the same year that another film about the famed designer was released. The other movie, Coco avant Chanel, starred Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel. Directed by Anne Fontaine, this film was not as well received as the one about the stars' love affair.

This story is rather interesting. In Paris, France in 1913 is when the movie starts. The designer is attending the ballet, actually it is the premier of The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky. His production is extremely controversial and actually offends most of the audience.

The music and dance appalled the large audience, which sets off the biggest musical riot in history. But, young Coco was not offended in the least. In fact, she enjoyed the show and is especially interested in Igor when she sees him storming out of the angry theater.

Seven years pass and Chanel and Stravinsky come in contact again. Coco Chanel has become a successful designer with a thriving business. She is mourning the death of her lover, Arthur "Boy" Capel when she meets Igor. Stravinsky has been forced to leave Russian after the Russian Revolution and has fled to France. The two are immediately attracted to one another.

Coco Chanel invites the musician, his wife, and his children to live in a villa outside of Paris that she owns. It is during that time that Chanel and Stravinsky begin their secret love affair. As a result of their secret and growing passion for one another, their work gets better and more creative. During this affair, the infamous perfume, Chanel No. 5 is created. It also said that during this affair, Stravinsky's work began to take on a more liberated tone. As with any good love affair, their must be drama. The drama ensues when Igor's wife finds out about the affair that her husband is engaging in with Coco Chanel.

Jan Kounen directed the movie and Chris Greenhalgh wrote the screenplay along with the book. The movie was filmed in three languages, French, English, and Russian. It stars Ann Mouglalis as Coco Chanel and Mads Mikkelson as Igor Stravinsky. Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky opened around the world after it's premier at the Cannes Film Festival. The initial reviews were mixed. The film was said to be sophisticated but it lacked imagination. It also was not as developed as the book and left the viewer wanting more. - 40726

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