Django - Ein Leben für die Musik

I found the DVD of this movie at my public library and watched it at home. A curious DVD presentation in that it has no menu, it just starts and runs for almost 2 hours, mostly French and German with English subtitles.

I am a musician but only became familiar with Django Reinhardt in the Woody Allen movie "Sweet and Low Down" which featured a fictional character, a guitarist, who would almost faint at the thought of even meeting Reinhardt, his idol. So this movie is a good look at who the guitarist really was.

Reda Kateb, a Belgian actor, is very good as Django Reinhardt. Even though he had been playing for quite a while the story here picks up in 1943 France during the German occupation. Django had a double whammy against him, being a Gypsy and being a Jazz musician, two things the Nazis were against and killed many for. But he managed to survive because of his musicianship.

Good movie of an interesting musician in a difficult time. he didn't live much longer, dying at age 43.

Solid biopic of a short period of Django's life during WWII. Acting OK, photography is very good, plot is OK but the music and the onscreen playing thereof is masterful.

A splendid gripping film, released on the day we Dutch honor all those who have fallen during the 2nd World War. The captivating acting and the way in which the film was shot, immerses you in and meanders you along a distressing part of Django Reinhardt's life. The spellbinding music in the film, paying homage to Django Reinhardt's innovative jazz with an infusing Gypsy flavor, will stay with you for the rest of your life. And if you ever have the good fortune to visit the chapel of Saint-Pierre in Villefrance-sur- Mer (France) and look at the details of the wall paintings by Jean Cocteau, you will realize what a big impact Django has made on lots of people.

Too schematic and for non-French wiever also not 100% understandable ... German soldiers presented as too stupid.

It is more than a beautiful film. It represents a testimony, in so many senses, about the architecture of a period, about the identity of a comunity, about selfishness transformed in compassion and love for the others, about roots of Gypsy Swing and about essence of beauty, vocation and survive.

A film about family and, off course, about identity.

One of the impressive ones. A gem, in fact, for the message, first, for the wise manner to explore a very sensitive, today to, subject, not less. And admirable music.