The Red Volin (紅提琴)

Got to know this movie - The Red Violin (紅提琴) while surfing the net for violin music. Is a 1998 Canadian drama film, directed by François Girard and released on June 11, 1999. Throughout the movie, the solos are played by Joshua David Bell (born Dec 1967), an American Grammy Award-winning violinsit and is a gratification while watching the movie with the music.

The film spans three centuries since year 1681 and five countries (Cremona, Italy; Vienna, Austria; Oxford, England; Shanghai, China and Montreal, Canada) as it tells the history of a violin and its many owners when the violin is being auctioned in Canada in the start of the movie. A path from Europe to Communist China to our time. Nicolo Bussotti is an Italian master violin maker in the 17th century who is married to Anna Rudolfi and pregnant with their first child. Anna sees her servant Cesca and asks for a Tarot reading with five cards. In the meantime, Nicolo has custom a new violin, one that he considers his masterpiece for his child. It is later revealed in the film that the last violin that he would make after Anna and the baby died during her complications childbirth.

As the cards are turned, a different event in the life of the violin and its many owners is predicted and shown where none of the owners know the secret of the "Red Violin" which was made varnished with Anna's blood with a brush made from her hair.

The predictions:

- First card signifies that Anna would live a long life.

- Second card means disease and suffering for those around Anna (in essence, the violin).

- Third card means seduction at the hands of the person she could only consider to be the devil.

- Fourth card means tough times ahead, featuring a trial and persecution.

- Final card means a rebirth.

Saw the trailer and the comments on the website (which is worthy to watch) and wanted to watch the movie, unfortunately, unable to find the DVD after searching thru several audio shops. Nevertheless, manage to watch it in youku.com eventhough is a bit slow.

While watching, "The Red Violin" reminds us just how important it might be when we are searching for perfection. Driving towards musical perfection as the primary priority and risking life to protect from destroying which encased in this one little volin. For a moment, we are lost in the movie as what is important in life? The historical red violin or something more significant.

Being happy doesnt means to have everything in perfect, but to decide and look beyond the imperfections in life. Strive for excellence instead, as perfection rarely leads to happiness with two simple reasons: (1) no one is perfect and (2) the ability to control the situation.

Hmm ... ... is time for me to take out my violin to practice (not perfect tune but trying my best).

Here's the links:
Movie Trailer


Sad Romance - Thao Nguyen Xanh


The Red Violin - Pope's Concert
The Red Violin - Kaspar Weiss
The Red Violin - Kaspar Weiss, Musical Prodigy

Have a pleasant enjoyment.

God bless!