Chevalier (2022 film)

Chevalier is a 2022 American biographical drama film directed by Stephen Williams and written by Stefani Robinson. It is based on the life of the titular French-Caribbean musician Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.. The film also stars Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Marton Csokas, Alex Fitzalan, and Minnie Driver.

Chevalier
Theatrical release poster
Directed byStephen Williams
Screenplay byStefani Robinson
Produced by
  • Ed Guiney
  • Andrew Lowe
  • Stefani Robinson
  • Dianne McGunigle
Starring
CinematographyJess Hall
Edited byJohn Axelrad
Music byKris Bowers
Production
companies
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • September 11, 2022 (2022-09-11) (TIFF)
  • April 21, 2023 (2023-04-21) (United States)
Running time
107 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3.3 million[2]

Chevalier had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2022, and was released in the United States on April 21, 2023, by Searchlight Pictures. The film received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Joseph Bologne was born December 25, 1745 to an enslaved Afro mother and her caucasian owner in Guadeloupe. His father enrolled him at boarding school in Paris where he excelled in violin, composition and fencing.

When he came of age, he presented in the court of French Queen Marie-Antoinette. He so impressed her that she knighted him Chevalier de Saint Georges. St Georges was favored at court and lived well amid the extravagance of France’s royalty. Meanwhile, poverty and royal excesses fomented political unrest among the French masses.

St Georges’ musical accomplishments and fencing prowess won him acclaim, money, romantic popularity and the chance of being maestro of the Paris Opera.

However, his race and his romantic choices won him enemies. When they combined to eliminate his chance of being maestro, his fall from grace began. His knighthood was degraded soon after.

Then as political unrest erupted into the storming of the Bastille, St George’s allegiances turned from royalty and elitism to the populace cause and to open revolution.

Cast

Production

On June 30, 2020, it was announced that Searchlight Pictures had bought a feature pitch from Atlanta's Stefani Robinson for Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a biopic about the musician of the same name, with Stephen Williams attached to direct.[3] On March 31, 2021, it was announced that Kelvin Harrison Jr. was cast in the lead role of Saint-Georges.[4] On July 8, 2021, Samara Weaving joined the cast as the female lead.[5] The following month, Lucy Boynton and Minnie Driver were added to the main cast, with Alex Fitzalan cast in a supporting role and the film's title shortened to Chevalier.[6][7][8]

Principal photography began on September 7, 2021, in Prague, Czech Republic,[9] and filming ended in November 2021.

Release

It had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2022.[10] Originally set to be released in theaters on April 7, 2023,[11] the date was pushed back to April 21, 2023.[12]

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, Chevalier was released alongside The Covenant, Evil Dead Rise, and the wide expansion of Beau Is Afraid, and was projected to gross $1–3 million from 1,275 theaters in its opening weekend.[13] It ended up debuting to $1.5 million, finishing 11th at the box office.[14]

Critical response

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 81% based on 116 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Supported by Kelvin Harrison Jr.'s outstanding work in the title role, Chevalier offers an entertaining gateway into the incredible life of a brilliant artist."[15] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 67 out of 100, based on reviews from 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[16]

References
  1. "Chevalier". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  2. "Chevalier (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  3. Donnelly, Matt (June 30, 2020). "'Black Mozart' Biopic Lands at Searchlight From Director Stephen Williams, Writer Stefani Robinson (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  4. Kroll, Justin (March 31, 2021). "Kelvin Harrison Jr. To Star In Searchlight's 'Chevalier de Saint-Georges' As The Musical Prodigy". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  5. Kit, Borys (July 8, 2021). "Samara Weaving to Star in Searchlight Drama 'Chevalier de Saint-Georges' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  6. Kroll, Justin (August 4, 2021). "Lucy Boynton To Play Marie Antoinette In Searchlight's 'Chevalier' Starring Kelvin Harrison Jr". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  7. Wiseman, Andreas (August 13, 2021). "Minnie Driver Joins Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving & Lucy Boynton In Searchlight Pictures Biopic 'Chevalier'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  8. Donnelly, Matt (August 20, 2021). "Searchlight's 'Chevalier' Casts Alex Fitzalan Opposite Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  9. Pirodsky, Jason (August 30, 2021). "'Chevalier', with Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Samara Weaving, to shoot in Prague from September". The Prague Reporter. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  10. D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 28, 2022). "Toronto Film Festival 2022 Expecting "Full Houses" Says CEO With Star Power World Premieres: Jennifer Lawrence's 'Causeway', Anya Taylor-Joy's 'The Menu', Jessica Chastain's 'The Good Nurse', Jonathan Majors & Glen Powell's 'Devotion' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  11. Grobar, Matt (October 11, 2022). "Marvel Shifts Release Dates For 'Blade', 'Fantastic Four', 'Avengers: Secret Wars', Next 'Deadpool' Among Disney Moves". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  12. Chavez, Conny (February 6, 2023). "'Chevalier': Biographical Drama Release Date Pushed Back". Collider. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  13. D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 19, 2023). "'Evil Dead Rise' Could Surprise With Potential $20M+ Opening As 'Super Mario Bros' Stay In Charge – Box Office Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 19, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 22, 2023). "'Super Mario Bros' Has Best Third Weekend For Animated Pic With $58M+; 'Evil Dead Rise' Still Alive With $23M+ – Sunday Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  15. "Chevalier". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  16. "Chevalier Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
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