Tous les Matins du Monde [All the Mornings of the World] ***** (1991, Gérard Depardieu, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Guillaume Dépardieu, Anne Brochet, Carole Richert, Michel Bouquet, Caroline Sihol, Myriam Boyer, Jean-Claude Dreyfus) – Classic Movie Review 4157

Co-writer/ director Alain Corneau’s magical, gorgeous-looking, and utterly haunting 1991 French film is the tale of 17th-century love, betrayal and music (superbly arranged and played by Jordi Savall), with Depardieu père et fils – Gérard Depardieu and his real-life son Guillaume Dépardieu – playing the same character, Marin Marais, as callow youth and life-soured elder.

The young man wants to learn to play an instrument and approaches a reluctant and reclusive master viola da gamba player Monsieur de Sainte Colombe (wonderful Jean-Pierre Marielle), who finally agrees, prompted by his daughter Madeleine (Anne Brochet), whom the boy then romances.

Corneau’s and Pascal Quignard’s intelligent screenplay (based on Quignard’s novel) and the winning performances combine to help to make this rare meditation on music a singularly seductive experience.

Jean-Pierre Marielle was born on April 12, 1932 in Paris and is known for The Da Vinci Code (2006).

It was the winner of seven Césars, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Anne Brochet), Best Music (Jordi Savall) and Best Cinematography (Yves Angelo). The title translates as All the Mornings of the World.

Also in the cast are Carole Richert, Michel Bouquet, Caroline Sihol [Silhol], Myriam Boyer, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Yves Gasc, Yves Lambrecht and Jean-Marie Poirier.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4157

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