Andrei Filipov, a talented Russian conductor, has been reduced to being a janitor in the theater that he loved and showed a promise some years ago. He had the audacity to defy the then president Brezhnev when he gave the order to fire all the Jewish musicians of the orchestra, by going ahead in a performance with all the Jewish musicians the higher ups wanted to banish. In fact, Filipov suffers the ultimate humiliation as he is conducting the Tchaikovski violin concerto. Ivan Gavrilov, the head of the Bolshoi comes to him on stage and proceeds to break his baton.
Some years later, Filipov cleaning the Bolshoi's manager office, reads an incoming fax in which the head of the Chatelet theater in Paris is asking his Russian counterpart for an appearance since a slot has become available. Andrei has no problem in stealing the fax and sets out a plan in which to dupe the French into believing the real Bolshoi will be appearing at the Chatelet. For that he must ask his old rival, Gavrilov, to help him at last finish his rendition of the famous concert.
"Le concert" is a Russian-French co-production conceived and directed by Radu Mihaileanu, although it is based on a story by Hector Cabello Reyes and Thiery Degrandi. The comedy is basically seen from the Russian point of view. Andrei is able to assemble a motley crew of old Jewish musicians that were banned from playing in their native land because of prevailing prejudice against talented people that were seen as a threat to the government because of their intelligence.
Andrei Filipov, through Gavrilov, demands the present of a young French violinist, Anne-Marie Jacquet, whose past, we get to know, has a connection with the maestro. The revelation is not earth shattering since the viewer has already guessed why Andrei wants Anne-Marie as the soloist for the Tchaikovski.
Aleksei Guskov appears as Andrei Filipov, the disgraced musician. His sidekick is played by Dmitri Nazarov. Melanie Laurent makes an appealing Anne-Marie. Miou-Miou, Laurent Bateau and Francois Berland are seen in supporting roles.
Some years later, Filipov cleaning the Bolshoi's manager office, reads an incoming fax in which the head of the Chatelet theater in Paris is asking his Russian counterpart for an appearance since a slot has become available. Andrei has no problem in stealing the fax and sets out a plan in which to dupe the French into believing the real Bolshoi will be appearing at the Chatelet. For that he must ask his old rival, Gavrilov, to help him at last finish his rendition of the famous concert.
"Le concert" is a Russian-French co-production conceived and directed by Radu Mihaileanu, although it is based on a story by Hector Cabello Reyes and Thiery Degrandi. The comedy is basically seen from the Russian point of view. Andrei is able to assemble a motley crew of old Jewish musicians that were banned from playing in their native land because of prevailing prejudice against talented people that were seen as a threat to the government because of their intelligence.
Andrei Filipov, through Gavrilov, demands the present of a young French violinist, Anne-Marie Jacquet, whose past, we get to know, has a connection with the maestro. The revelation is not earth shattering since the viewer has already guessed why Andrei wants Anne-Marie as the soloist for the Tchaikovski.
Aleksei Guskov appears as Andrei Filipov, the disgraced musician. His sidekick is played by Dmitri Nazarov. Melanie Laurent makes an appealing Anne-Marie. Miou-Miou, Laurent Bateau and Francois Berland are seen in supporting roles.