Review of Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (2009) by Nelson L — 14 Jan 2010

The film carries an interesting subject matter of the love affair between these two celebrities, which perhaps is not known to many - or is it fictatious only. As a film, however, it is quite bland. The love affair of the story perhaps is to blame, followed by the protrayal of the two protagonists, especially that of Anna Mouglalis who may have quite a special stylish look and temperament as the top and formidable fashion designer but invites doubts as an actress. Mads Mikkelsen as Igor Stravinsky is also too two-dimensional, without enough character or anything that really moves - again, it may be the script that should blame. What's more, the film is inevitably indulgent in showing too purposefuly the high fashion worn by Mouglalis, or the lavish bed-sheet on which a supposedly hot sex scene is to take place; during my viewing, the film sometimes suggests a soft-porn to me but the sex scenes are not adequate for that either.

The real Stravinsky's as well as some lavishly romantic music as the soundtrack can become a strong point. The opening scene, the premiere of 'The Rite of Spring' raises my doubt that how much research has been done regarding its real world premiere; the dance shown on the screen now is far from brilliant.

I don't really feel like that I have seen a film, after seeing this two-hour film.