Four beautifully crafted (and exceedingly expensive) Stradivarius string instruments are united with four very different musicians to create a symphony of ego, drama and harmony in this dry French comedy by Gregory Magne.
Heiress Astrid Thompson (Valérie Donzelli) was dealt an implausible task – to fulfil her late father’s wish to unite all four Stradivarius instruments from the (fictional) San Domenico collection, and to see them performing a score by his favourite composer, Charlie Beaumont (Frédéric Pierrot). This once-in-a-lifetime recital is to be livestreamed worldwide for music-lovers to enjoy.
Astrid recruits 4 virtuosos to make up this unlikely quartet: George (Mathew Spinosi), the narcissistic playboy violinist with a huge ego; Lise (Marie Vialle), the cellist with a type A personality; Peter (Daniel Garlitsky), the moody violinist who also happens to be Lise’s ex; and Apolline (Emma Ravier), the beautiful young influencer violist, with no formal training but a huge social media following – due largely, according to George, to her penchant for posting bikini pics.
Tension is high and chaos ensues when such different personalities struggle to find common ground in the six days they have been given to rehearse. When no consensus is reached on how the score should be interpreted, Astrid calls in the big guns – Charlie Beaumont himself. Charlie is reluctant to lend his expertise at first, for one reason alone: he hates his composition and cannot understand why anyone would want to perform it!
Through anti-influencer snobbery drama, a blackout, tantrums, a hike gone wrong and even accidental damage to one of the precious violins, the quartet eventually find their way to each other – and to the music. The Musicians is a charming ode to the true spirit of collaboration. It serves as a reminder that great art is rarely made in comfort, and its true beauty lies in the chaos that precedes it.