The Concert opens with Andrei (Aleksei Guskov) in a seat watching the Russian orchestra when he is suddenly interrupted. This interruption was so comical, in that, Andrei is actually the janitor for the orchestra and not the conductor. The story unfolds to show Andrei as a famous conductor who ignored political pressure and refused to fire his Jewish musicians. This event, 30 years prior, spun him into a depression from which he never recovered.
A right-place-right-time coincidence puts Andrei in the position to impersonate the Russian orchestra for a last-minute concert in Paris. He decides to get the “band back together”, running around from town to town assembling his old orchestra. These people included a salesman, an ambulance driver and a gypsy.
The final ingredient is recruiting the famous soloist Anne-Marie Jacquet played beautifully by the wonderful Mélanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds). Turns out Andrei chose her for a personal reason which leads to the soul of the film. How a thirty year old secret unfolds and warms the audience’s heart is done with such grace and ability one could not but sit and smile with a tear or two.
If you go to see The Concert I think you will agree it is one of the most touching comedies in recent years.
Rob Holmes is Founder & CEO of IPCybercrime, a boutique firm providing top-rated investigations for brand owners and their attorneys.
