The music biopic has always been a popular trend and movie fans are getting another entry in 2023 with Chevalier. But while the likes of Ray, Walk the Line, Straight Outta Compton and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (more of a parody, but in the same line) portrayed more contemporary musicians, Chevalier is focusing on a legendary French classical composer who was the closest thing to a rock star in the 18th century.
Though the story takes place during the period of the French Revolution and features historical figures, including Marie Antoinette, the chance to see the story of Joseph Bologne, who is often referred to as the "Black Mozart" — performed by the rising star of Kelvin Harrison Jr. — makes this one to watch in the first half of 2023.
Here is everything that you need to know about Chevalier.
Chevalier release date
Chevalier premieres exclusively in movie theaters on April 21 in the US and June 9 in the UK. The movie was previously set for an April 7 release, but was pushed back, per a tweet from its official account:
Allow me to reintroduce myself. #WhoIsChevalier Exclusively in theaters April 21, 2023 #ChevalierMovie pic.twitter.com/hNsjwfseFPFebruary 6, 2023
The movie has already been seen by some though, as it screened as part of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
Chevalier trailer
The first trailer for Chevalier has been released, offering an exhilarating preview of the life, times and music of Joseph Bologne. Watch it below:
Chevalier plot
From a script by Stefani Robinson (Atlanta, What We Do in the Shadows), here is the official synopsis for Chevalier:
"Inspired by the incredible story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, Bologne rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, complete with an ill-fated love affair and a falling out with Marie Antoinette herself and her court."
Chevalier cast
Kelvin Harrison Jr. leads the way for Chevalier as Joseph Bologne. Harrison has been building himself quite the resume in recent years, giving standout performances in Luce, Waves and Cyrano. He was most recently seen in Elvis playing another musical legend, B.B. King.
Alongside Harrison in Chevalier is Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, Nine Perfect Strangers), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting, Rosaline), Marton Csokas (The Last Duel, The Equalizer), Sian Clifford (Fleabag, See How They Run), Alex Fitzalan (The Wilds), Ronke Adékoluẹjo (Alex Rider) and Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Ipcress Files) as Marie Antoinette.
Chevalier reviews — what the critics are saying
What to Watch has shared its Chevalier review, which features another strong performance from Kelvin Harrison Jr., affirming that he is a star on the rise, while the movie itself is an entertaining dive into the world of French classical music.
Overall opinion on the movie is pretty solid. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is at an 82% "Fresh" as of April 19.
How long is Chevalier?
The runtime for Chevalier is one hour and 47 minutes.
What is Chevalier rated?
Chevalier is rated PG-13 in the US for "thematic content, some strong language, suggestive material and violence.
Chevalier director
Directing Chevalier is Stephen Williams. Williams has made his career mostly on TV, directing episodes of hit shows like Watchmen, Westworld, How to Get Away With Murder, Lost and more. Chevalier is actually his first feature movie since 1995, when he wrote and directed the indie movie Soul Survivor.
