Apparently, there’s a downside to getting a title. No, really. Ever seen somebody dismiss a knighthood? There could be a perfectly common sense reason. Chevalier claims that once upon a time, Joseph Bologne won a big deal fencing duel with such aplomb that Marie Antoinette titled him on the spot.
Cool, right?
Well, An 18th Century title in France was a big deal – it could guarantee housing and income for life. It could also guarantee a standard of life many are not accustomed to. And trust me when I say those in the time of Marie Antoinette were angry about it. The downside? Joseph Bologne was a Creole man of color. This meant he couldn’t marry within his class because there were no women of color to be found there and he couldn’t marry below his class without ceding his title and dooming himself to poverty, This meant that Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), was destined to be a playboy. It’s quite possible this is the exact life he wanted. It is also possible that it was not.
Joseph Bologne is (apparently) among the best kept secrets of the French Revolution period. His father was akin to Southern royalty while his mother was a slave. It’s worth note that almost all persons born to slaves in North America became … slaves (like, automatically). I’m not sure how the mixed race kid avoided it, nor how his mother was “freed” after the death of Joseph’s father, but both of these things are (believe it or not) historically accurate.
Speaking of historically accurate, I have no idea if the opening throwdown between Wolfgang and Chevalier is real, but it sure was fun on film. It was like an 18th century poetry slam, but with violins, an opera house, and an audience full of corset-wearing snoots. Story has it that Joseph’s father recognized the
kid’s talent for, well, everything (but especially music and fencing) and sent him away to France to get a genuine education. Being alone and, young Joseph struggled with the being black in an all white school filled to the gills with aristocratic haters. But, let’s face it, you can only struggle so much when you never lose … and Joseph never lost. Well, not until history came calling. Chevalier is really two films: one on his way up and one on his way down. This biopic focuses on the hyper-confident, egotistical-yet-suave (weird combo, huh?) package that Chevalier always brought to the table. He was loved for it and then he was diminished not for his ego, but because being successful-while-black will always attract bad attention, and in 18th Century France, it could get you killed.
I have mixed feelings about Chevalier. His talent made him easy to like, but his personality did not. If you believe in the merit system, this guy should have been king of France … but then he would likely have suffered a parting of the ways between head and torso come revolution time. In a way, this is a classic American story: taking a man of modest means (well, fantastic means yet humble demographics so it averages out to modest) and building him up to heights he has earned … only to tear him down again and send him back to humble origins if for no other reason than social experimentation. I think to love Chevalier you have to love Chevalier. I didn’t love him, but I did like him. Marginal recommendation.
There once was a Frenchman mulatto
Generously gifted by the goddess Erato
He selected a love
But when push came to shove
The result: in my backyard, oh not-to
Rated PG-13, 108 Minutes
Director: Stephen Williams
Writer: Stefani Robinson
Genre: France’s fun time! (Pre-Revolution)
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: The estate of Joseph Bologne
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: The estate of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
