The Grand Bolero

The Grand Bolero is compelling and engaging, the acting is amazing and the direction original and creative.

For those who love music, be prepared to the hypnotic sounds of the fascinating pipe organ, which has the real leading role in the story.

I had the pleasure to meet the director Gabriele Fabbro, he is a very young Italian talent, and I'm sure this will be one of his firsts successes.

This film is incredibly visually poetic and the performances are fantastic. Lidia Vitale is a powerhouse and delivers a moving and chilling performance in this film. The score perfectly punctuates the drama on screen and the cinematography and pace keep you enthralled and interested in every detail as the story unfolds. Hope this film comes out in theaters.

Excellent film from Italy at the San Jose film festival, CINEQUEST. During COVID lockdown, a church is closed down and hires a later middle age woman, Roxanne, a organ repairer, restorer and tuner to work on the theater pipe organ and full pipe organ. The lone priest takes in Lucia, rejected by family; not able to talk, illiterate and only understanding English as an assistant. Cold, gruff Roxanne is totally against the idea, but does work with Lucia. Soundtrack is exceptional, church pipe organ, theater organ and sounds of nature. Cinematography of foothills of the Italian Alps and the lush forest vegetation is excellent. Acting is excellent by all.

I loved this film!

It is incredibly poetic, beautifully shot and original.

I loved the setting: the woods, winter, Italy, a decrepit church, two organs that need fixing.. It taught me lots I didn't know about organs, and the post twists left me speechless.

The acting is really good and the tension between the character is always present and really carries the story forward, I loved the fact that no character is completely good or evil but each has clear flaws, motivations and qualities.

The score is phenomenal, it paces perfectly with the emotions and it is so rare to hear classical music, let alone played on an organ.

There are lots of metaphors but it never is preachy, I would recommend it.

All in all I found it a delicate love letter to real Italy, not the sunny Country with Vespas that Hollywood is so fond of, but the true identity of my home Country is on display in The Grand Bolero.

Set in the backdrop of rural Italy, this thriller has beautiful cinematography and a wondrous gripping storyline.

Brilliant, raw and powerful performances from the two main protagonists, Lidia Vitale and Ludovica Mancini - with subtle direction from Gabriele Fabbro.

The story is set in a church in the covid era as a young girl takes refuge as an assistant to a pipe organ restorer - and their relationship metamorphosises with captivating results.

The powerful music of the pipe organ cleverly weaves in synchronicity with the story to keep and heighten the tension & emotions of this thriller, which works to keep the viewer invested.

Loved this film!