Impromptu [Blu-ray]

Lots of hilarious scenes, beautiful scenery and costumes. This film is basically a farce. The thing that really got up my nose, though, is the way Eugène Delacroix was portrayed. The real Delacroix was not a crazy Bohemian getting high with Liszt in the woods and grabbing a Countess in the middle of the night and forcing himself on her like a grunting beast! He liked to paint beasts, but he certainly didn't behave like one. Delacroix was a very reserved gentleman who never forced himself on any woman. He very much respected women, and expected them to behave as though they deserved respect. Yes, he had mistresses throughout his life, but the scene with him and the Countess was so out of character! Delacroix was very close to both Chopin and Sand, and it was wonderful that the film included his character. I just wished they'd done their research better and not sullied his name.

A few weeks ago I threw over rock and roll for Chopin and have not looked back. For decades I regularly listened to Chopin while giving massages. I have missed being enveloped by his enchanting, soothing musical genius. It is this current creative musical crush that inspired me to revisit Impromptu, a favorite film I saw way back when it was released. I enjoyed the film even more now. It's a highly entertaining, energetic satirical farce, a romp, a romantic comedy, period piece drama starring a brilliant ensemble cast.The story focuses on French writer George Sand, a dazzling intellect, in a role reversal pursuit of the delicate, sensitive genius, a sickly, prim and proper Chopin. George (aka Baroness Aurora Dupin), falls in love with Frédéric Chopin through his music before meeting him. I related to this since I did the same with someone I became involved with. Hugh Grant's beauty and comedic timing made him well suited for this white gloved role. He plays the gifted composer-pianist to perfection and holds his own opposite a raucous Judy Davis as Sand, who basically devours him,The film includes an unwitting foil, wannabe socialite Duchess, (Emma Thompson), who arranges for a retreat of the top artists of the time; a profound and exalted love letter written by Sand to Chopin that is co-opted by Franz List's conniving mistress, (Bernadette Peters); several daft, dramatic romantic duels; a biting satirical play-within-the-play about the aristocracy; unsupervised child urchins; a delightfully depraved Delacroix, and a crazed and passionate Alfred de Mussett (the unconquerable Mandy Patinkin) riding like wildfire on a horse through the house.The film is outrageous, sensational, witty, and fun as it bends history with scandalous characterizations of Sand and her fellow artists de Musset, Listz, Delacroix, Mallefille, and Chopin. I loved it

French writer George Sand was way ahead of her times. She was the first known feminist. In 1840, she smoked cigars in public, dressed as a man, and attended Burlesque shows in Montmatre Paris with men. And as this movie, Impromptu, tells the story on how she seduced the gifted Polish piano composer, Frederic Chopin.George Sand was a work of living art. She was born as a Baroness into a wealthy family, and she often heard classical music throughout her life. When she first heard of Chopin's tender music, she was in love. Not only with the music but also with the shy, reticence, bashful Chopin. Impromptu tells of the chase of her to win his heart. Even though it's a fantastic true story, what made this movie exceptional, is the décor used in the scenery. On feels one is in a 19th century salon with all of the rich people. The walls are decorated with book cases and paintings, and the habitants are dressed to the nines. This movie is an historical piece well crafted by British director James Lapine. And to add to the substance of this remarkable story are two excellent players, actor Hugh Grant playing Chopin, and actress Judy Davis playing the social ground breaker George Sand.The movie opens up with Sand dressed as a man. Her hair is coifed back to appear like a man, and she is wearing men's trousers. Yet she's really a woman. In fact, she's the Baroness Dudevant. She writes novels, and rides horses, and she chases her affection with no stop. She wants to land Chopin, and makes her effort to succeed in her quest to fulfill her love ambitions.In Impromptu, Chopin is staying at the house of the rich. He and fellow composer Franz Listz are pals, and both compose and play the piano together. Yet, the star attraction is George Sand. A rebel French writer who plays dilly dally games with Chopin to win his heart.Nevertheless Sand is not best remembered for her exquisite novels, or romantic love affair with one of the greatest composers in the 19th Century, she's most remembered as the one who started feminism. Several years after Sand's reputation arrived in the United States, feminist started in upstate New York, and the movement reached its heyday in the 1960s. Yet it was a hundred and twenty years before, when Sand started equal rights but smoking cigars, wearing men's clothes, and being the obvious aggressor in chasing one's love desires.Impromptu captures that. It accurately portrays Sand as a rebellious pants chaser, who does want pleases her, not what pleases social mores. This movie got it right. It shows the ground breaking rebellious behavior by a 19th century woman, who is credited with being the first feminist, and started her own revolution.For that fact alone, to see Judy David portray George Sand, makes this movie worth watching. The scenery is not only spectacular, this movie is also a history lesson.

韓国語の字幕が届き驚きました。問い合わせたところ、日本語の在庫は切れていたそうです。日本語の字幕をが欲しい方は気をつけた方が良さそうです！

I found this to be is a far more enjoyable film than it really ought to be, given that it isn`t anywhere near funny enough to appeal to a wide general audience.If you know who all the real-life characters are, it just about gets by; while most of the cast do their best with a script that only allows for rather two-dimensional characterisations, Judy Davis carries much of the film with a spirited, fairly convincing depiction of George Sand. Together with Hugh Grant as Chopin – which, from what I know of the composer, comes across as a reasonable characterisation – the film works well enough as a comedy; historical accuracy isn`t a primary consideration and if that is realised by the viewer from the outset, it becomes a much more pleasurable affair.With high production values, settings and a good visual attention to period detail (in so far as it matters) this is a soufflé that didn't quite rise, but still entertains; there are some excellent contributions from Emma Thompson and Anton Rodgers and the rather contrived plot hobbles along on the edge of farce for much of the duration, the silliness pretty much saving the day.A fair and amusing period romp with some good music thrown in; worth a view on a wet night or a quiet afternoon. It`s not a great film, but it isn`t a dreadful one either.3 ½ stars, ideally.

This film disappoints from the off. George Sand is unconvincing and she is probably the best depiction in it. Chopin coughs his way through the film and has a terrible phoney accent. He is portrayed as a fainting wimp and Liszt (Julian Sands) is no better. If they have accents why doesn't George Sand? albeit of a different nature. There is no plot. Emma Thompson flits through the film like an aborted butterfly and really there is no direction. The film is flat. Where is the passion, the romance? The film takes all its time to bring Chopin and Sand together and then ends. It says nothing of the tumultuous and passionate affair. This film is as exciting as a wet fish slopped around your face. Best forgotten!

We enjoyed it very much and wished it had continued

I very much enjoyed this movie. It is stylish and I love the sense of humour. Hugh Grant is fabulous as wonderful, shy and super talented Chopin. A stylish and entertaining movie. Something to watch over and over again. A must for all lovers of Chopin.