CHEVALIER Q&A with Kelvin Harrison Jr., Minnie Driver, Samara Weaving | TIFF 2022

The team behind CHEVALIER in conversation with TIFF in advance of its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Featuring a dynamic performance from Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Waves), this opulent historical drama - brimming with intrigue, romance, and sumptuous music - turns the spotlight on a brilliant Black artist whose legacy has been woefully obscured.
The 47th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 8 to 18, 2022. For more, visit tiff.net.
Featuring a magnetic performance from Kelvin Harrison Jr. (TIFF ’19’s Waves; TIFF ’19 Rising Star), this opulent historical drama, brimming with intrigue, romance, and sumptuous music, turns the spotlight on a brilliant Black composer and violinist whose legacy has been woefully obscured. Chevalier opens with an audacious bang, as Joseph Bologne (Harrison) interrupts a Paris concert conducted by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and makes a dramatic impression on the preening genius and his fancy, 18th-century audience. From there we watch as Bologne, propelled by talent, ambition, and a drive to surmount the racist barriers all around him, climbs his way up from outcast to a place in Marie Antoinette’s inner circle. Born in Guadeloupe as the illegitimate son of an enslaved African and a white French aristocrat, Bologne grew up in Paris as a privileged but stigmatized son. He was afforded the finest education and excelled in music and fencing. But he was still Black. As a gifted, vital young man, Bologne cuts a dashing figure at court, attracting the attention of an older woman, La Guimard (Minnie Driver). His attempts to manage her overtures, while his own desires lead him to the very married Marie-Josephine (Samara Weaving), complicate any hope he has of achieving his greatest ambition: becoming the next leader of the prestigious Paris Opera. Director Stephen Williams returns to the Festival 27 years after his groundbreaking debut feature, Soul Survivor. Having directed premium series since then (Watchmen, Lost, How to Get Away with Murder), he brings masterful craft and genuine visual invention to Stefani Robinson’s screenplay. By the time it reaches its surprising, rewarding conclusion, Chevalier has distinguished itself as a riveting, truly original life story.
Stephen Williams is a producer and director with extensive television credits including Dark Angel (02), Crossing Jordan (03-05), and Lost (08-09). Born in Jamaica, he lived in London before immigrating to Canada. In 1992, he entered the director’s program at the Canadian Film Centre. His first short, A Variation on the Key 2 Life (93), was followed by the feature Soul Survivor (95), which played the Festival. Chevalier (22) is his latest feature.

[@makedabonsu987]

We, are the only ones who will tell our truth to the world ! Congratulations!! We will keep on rising !!!

[@hortleberrycircusbround9678]

The film was filled with inaccuracies and lies when there was no reason to do so. Joseph Boulogne was amazing enough a person to tell the truth but that didn't happen

[@drehgonden1103]

I don’t think one movie could ever do Joseph bologne or Thomas Alexander dumas true justice but I hope this sparks a wider interest to tell more stores so we can get their full stories back to the world bc omg these ppl were amazing

[@agenttheater5]

we have this movie about Bologne coming out soon, there's definitely two new movies of the Three Musketeers coming out soon, there's supposed to be a movie about Napoleon coming out soon, since they're all related via Dumas (since he knew Bologne and served and then fought against Napoleon), we should get a movie about Thomas Alexander Dumas. Maybe if we do a few years later we'll get a miniseries of both Bologne and Dumas, then maybe we'd get a telling of their stories that may do them true justice.

[@csjary]

I'm going to look into Thomas Alexander Dumas, thanks!

[@deepakfineberg]

Dumos whos father was white? Mother was half white? Oh but you meant the 1/4 that he was african?

[@drehgonden1103]

@@deepakfineberg this is an interesting thing I see white ppl start doing this. Funny enough they only claim them when the person is popular or a celebrity. Obama moved from the black guy to our first mixed raced president. So ig now dumas moved from a negro general to the 3/4 white hero.

[@kimo7438]

The movie was phenomenal.

[@002nl]

Such a perfect casting! I deeply enjoyed this movie. Being a fan of Lucy Boynton and Samara Weaving, I couldn't believe they were both casted for the same film. I hope they'll collab again in some other project.

[@amyellen3845]

I'm suddenly a classical music fan! Thank you for bringing his legacy back to life. This movie was brilliantly done and Joseph Bologne is a true inspiration.

[@lynnm.3453]

Viewing this Tiff Q &A after seeing the movie today has been a real treatt!

[@marlene5494]

I stumbled upon this movie this past weekend (June 18, 2023) by accident and I was captivated by the story. I love the violin but the portrayal of this unknown musician captured me. The whole story about this amazingly talented man was incredible. I only wish it was longer, which is good because it left me wanting more.

[@lamzy4683]

truly cannot wait

[@ItsBrieW]

I truly enjoyed this conversation and I’m looking forward to seeing the movie. Thank you all so much for your time and talent to creating this film.

[@adriannespring8598]

Actual Q & A starts at 12 minutes in. 😆 Llooove that Minnie brought up just how much a SOB Napoleon was vs Marie Antoinette but yet France glorifies him vs underscoring the reality. That needs to change.

[@zitrandy]

I love this movie. Thanks for posting.

[@andrewsandoz8005]

I've always wondered why a costume designer is necessary when making a period film. Is there any actual designing? Isn't the wardrobe mirrored and copied to reproduce the clothing and fashion of the time. Possibly materials used, color and texture need consideration? Excellent film, way overdue.

[@roguestar8]

I wish there was a trailer for this movie

[@ariadnapogreban8534]

litereally, why is there no trailer and no information about when it is coming out when it has already had its premiere so clearly the movie is dne?? SO fricking weird.

[@maxmultiverse3906]

@@ariadnapogreban8534 Let me know if you find anything out about it lol, I have the same questions

[@robinvolpi]

@@maxmultiverse3906 There's one now. ;)

[@maxmultiverse3906]

@@robinvolpi THANK YOU, I just saw it after your comment and it looks pretty good

[@Shay1147]

@@ariadnapogreban8534 The trailer is out.

[@Africa-ky1bg]

OMG from 23 :00 onward ... THE SEARING TRUTH about sexism & racism. BRAVO !!!

[@TWBRQUE]

Kelvin say what he did with the violin and the sword

[@bowdencable7094]

Where is the trailer?‽

[@MsAppassionata]

It’s out now.

[@Pope6006]

Full circle...... " Yeah baby!!!"

[@CBrown9758]

Excellent, excellent, excellent job to U all!😁🤩💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫🤩💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫Never have I gone back craving more of something as much as Chevalier. I just want more.🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💯