The Red Violin (1998)

The Red Violin (1998) is a film about a very special violin described by its restorer as “the single most perfect acoustical machine I've ever seen.” The movie chronicles the history of the instrument across three centuries and five countries. In 1681, an Italian paints the violin with the blood of his ailing wife, while more than a hundred years later, at an orphanage in Vienna the violin is now in the possession of a young musical prodigy. It then goes from a gypsy player in late nineteenth century Oxford to twentieth century Shanghai where it is hidden during the cultural revolution before it finally pops up in modern day Canada at an auction house. Featuring an insanely talented and diverse cast ranging from Carlo Cechi to Sylvia Chang, Christoph Koncz and even Samuel L Jackson. It’s a shame then that Jason Flemyng is the only stud willing to show off any skin. Come on now. We just want to see some men rosin up their bows!