"The Music Lovers" is one of British director Ken Russell's most memorable and widely viewed films. Known for lurid, flamboyant and unabashedly over-the-top productions, Russell brought the life stories of several famous composers to the screen.
"The Music Lovers" is a condensed version of Tchaikovsky's career and personal life in mid-19th century Russia. Melvyn Bragg's script takes a lot of liberties with the composer's life, and includes some fictional characters and elements. Richard Chamberlain (who was a competent pianist in real life) is in the title role, and he comes across as deeply sensitive, possibly depressed, and somewhat incapable of forming deep emotional attachments to anyone other than his late mother and siblings. He has a short-lived, disastrous marriage with Nina (Glenda Jackson), who is sexually obsessed with him as a celebrity composer/genius, and also attracts the obsessive devotion of a wealthy patroness, Nadezhda von Meck.
Russell focuses a bit too much on Tchaikovsky's homosexuality in the film and creates a fake aristocratic lover for him (played by Christopher Gable). The message that comes across to today's viewer that he was repressed sexually, and that's why he is miserable. However, I came away thinking that, like many creative geniuses, Tchaikovsky may have just cared more about his art than his personal life.
"The Music Lovers" feels like a ballet or music video in many scenes, which are without dialogue. Just wild fantasies in the composer's mind as he creates sumptuous, sweeping symphonies that we have all come to know and love. Like many of Russell's other films, "The Music Lovers" delves into the darkest sides of human sexuality and emotion, with characters who grieve, lust, love and hate with destructive intensity.
"The Music Lovers" is not for everyone; many viewers will turn away in disgust or just think this is lurid, exploitative trash. However, there is beauty and horror in this raw portrayal of a man who deeply loves music, is devoted to his art, and struggles with loss and personal relationships. It's more of a sketch of Tchaikovsky's life and career than a biography, and Russell tries to tap into the sweeping passion in those unforgettable notes. You'll never forget some of the scenes with Glenda Jackson as her character grapples with rejection and madness. She is raw and fearless here--few actresses could achieve the level of passion and anguish that she does in "The Music Lovers."
"The Music Lovers" is a condensed version of Tchaikovsky's career and personal life in mid-19th century Russia. Melvyn Bragg's script takes a lot of liberties with the composer's life, and includes some fictional characters and elements. Richard Chamberlain (who was a competent pianist in real life) is in the title role, and he comes across as deeply sensitive, possibly depressed, and somewhat incapable of forming deep emotional attachments to anyone other than his late mother and siblings. He has a short-lived, disastrous marriage with Nina (Glenda Jackson), who is sexually obsessed with him as a celebrity composer/genius, and also attracts the obsessive devotion of a wealthy patroness, Nadezhda von Meck.
Russell focuses a bit too much on Tchaikovsky's homosexuality in the film and creates a fake aristocratic lover for him (played by Christopher Gable). The message that comes across to today's viewer that he was repressed sexually, and that's why he is miserable. However, I came away thinking that, like many creative geniuses, Tchaikovsky may have just cared more about his art than his personal life.
"The Music Lovers" feels like a ballet or music video in many scenes, which are without dialogue. Just wild fantasies in the composer's mind as he creates sumptuous, sweeping symphonies that we have all come to know and love. Like many of Russell's other films, "The Music Lovers" delves into the darkest sides of human sexuality and emotion, with characters who grieve, lust, love and hate with destructive intensity.
"The Music Lovers" is not for everyone; many viewers will turn away in disgust or just think this is lurid, exploitative trash. However, there is beauty and horror in this raw portrayal of a man who deeply loves music, is devoted to his art, and struggles with loss and personal relationships. It's more of a sketch of Tchaikovsky's life and career than a biography, and Russell tries to tap into the sweeping passion in those unforgettable notes. You'll never forget some of the scenes with Glenda Jackson as her character grapples with rejection and madness. She is raw and fearless here--few actresses could achieve the level of passion and anguish that she does in "The Music Lovers."