‘Chevalier’ Filmmakers Shine a Light on a Brilliant Black 18th-Century Composer Admired by Marie Antoinette (Video)
thewrap.comToronto International Film Festival to discuss their new film “Chevalier,” a period drama about a Black 18th century classical composer who faced constant racism even as his music won the favor of Marie Antoinette.
Played by “Luce” star Kelvin Harrison Jr. in the film, Chevalier de Saint-Georges — born Joseph Bologne in Guadeloupe in 1745 — was the child of a white French plantation owner and an African slave.
Taken to Paris at an early age for his education, Saint-Georges became a prodigy both as a fencer and a violin player. His skills earned him a spot in the court of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, but they only got him so far: The racism of French high society cost him the chance to become the director of the Paris Opera.
Prejudice and bigotry had a major impact on Saint-Georges, especially after the French Revolution turned Paris on its head. “We’ve just scratched the surface with an introduction to this guy,” Robinson told TheWrap’s senior film reporter Brian Welk. “He was an incredibly virtuosic violinist, composer and fencer.
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