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Impromptu (1991 film)

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1991 British film
Impromptu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJames Lapine
Written bySarah Kernochan
Produced byStuart Oken
Daniel A. Sherkow
Starring
CinematographyBruno de Keyzer
Edited byMichael Ellis
Music by
Production
company		Ariane Films
Distributed by
Release date
  • April 12, 1991 (1991-04-12)
Running time91 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
United States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$4.1 million

Impromptu is a 1991 period drama film directed by James Lapine, written by Sarah Kernochan, produced by Daniel A. Sherkow and Stuart Oken, and starring Hugh Grant as Frédéric Chopin and Judy Davis as George Sand. It was shot entirely on location in France as a British production by an American company. Its main filming location was at the Château des Briottières outside Angers, in the Loire Valley.

Plot

Since getting divorced, Baroness Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin (previously Baroness Dudevant, the successful and notorious writer of sensational romance novels), has been living in Paris, under the pseudonym George Sand and dressing like a man. In her romantic pursuit of the sensitive Frédéric Chopin, whose music she fell in love with before meeting him, George/Aurore is advised that she must act like a man pursuing a woman, though also advised to avoid damaging Chopin's health by pursuing him. With this advice she is deterred by a fellow countrywoman (the mistress of Franz Liszt), Countess Marie d'Agoult, pretending to be smitten with Chopin in order to prevent a relationship between Chopin and Sand.

Sand meets Chopin in 1836 in the French country house of the Duchess d'Antan, a foolish aspiring socialite who invites artists from Paris to her salon to make her feel cosmopolitan. Sand invites herself, hoping to meet Chopin, not knowing that a few of her former lovers are also in attendance. A small play written by Alfred de Musset is presented, satirising the aristocracy and specifically mocking their hostess. When Chopin protests at this lack of manners, de Musset bellows and a fireplace explosion ensues.

Chopin is briefly swayed by a beautifully written love letter, ostensibly from d'Agoult but actually written by Sand and stolen from her. Eventually Sand wins over Chopin when she proves that she wrote the letter, reciting it to him passionately; after buying a copy of her memoir, he finds the text of the letter in the book.

Chopin is then challenged to a duel by one of Sand's ex-lovers. He faints during the face-off. Sand finishes the duel for him and nurses him back to health in the countryside, thereby consolidating their relationship.

Towards the end of the film, Sand and Chopin dedicate a volume of music to the Countess, although this only implies that she has had an affair with Chopin, causing a falling-out with her lover Liszt. Sand and Chopin depart for Majorca, relieved to escape the competitive nature of artistic alliances and jealousies in Paris.

Cast

The film's supporting actors include David Birkin as Maurice, John Savident as Buloz, Lucy Speed as Young Aurore, and Elizabeth Spriggs as Baroness Laginsky.

Production

Sarah Kernochan, director James Lapine's wife, had written the film in 1988 during a lay-off due to 1988 Writers Guild of America strike. Kernochan explained the film: "How do complicated people find a simple way of loving?" The producer Stuart Oken liked the project; his concern was to give Lapine "a chance to realise his vision and become a movie director." Oken brought the project to his friend and fellow producer, Dan Sherkow, who secured financing and distribution for the picture.

For the cast, Lapine wanted "to use people he had worked with before." He cast actors who "didn't look like the characters, yet embodied them." Judy Davis and Mandy Patinkin could "hardly look more unlike the cultural icons they portray." Lapine hired a piano coach and a music consultant to advise Grant and Sands on piano techniques.

Due to European Community legalities, the film was incorporated as a British production with co-production by the French company Ariane Films and distribution by the United States company Sovereign Pictures. The budget was $6 million.

Music

Chopin

Liszt

Beethoven

Release, reception

Impromptu was released on 12 April 1991 in the United Kingdom. It was later broadcast on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre in 1993.

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 74% based on 19 reviews, with an average score of 6.1/10. Jeff Millar of the Houston Chronicle wrote that the film is "a zingy, impudent little essay on gender, with the exquisitely confusing George Sand at its center." Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film 3/4 stars, writing, "The film has little serious interest in George Sand, and almost none in the novels that are all that remain of her, but diverts itself with scandal, atmosphere, location, and witty repartee."

Janet Maslin of The New York Times gave the film a positive review, likening it to the films of Ken Russell. Speaking of director James Lapine's approach, Maslin said, "Handling this material playfully, he tosses together the film's artistic luminaries and allows them to indulge in outrageous antics, like the scene that finds Sand pleading for Chopin's affections and telling him she needs only a minute of his time to explain her feelings." Terrence Rafferty wrote in The New Yorker that the film was "an ebullient and absurdly entertaining account of the famous love affair of George Sand and Frédéric Chopin. ...The historical figures in this movie are cartoons, but they’re cartoons with recognizable human qualities, and the actors look as if they were having a wonderful time charging around in their period costumes. Hugh Grant’s Chopin is a brilliant caricature of the Romantic ideal of the artist; he gives the character an air of befuddled unworldliness, and punctuates his readings with delicately timed tubercular coughs. Judy Davis plays Sand—a great actress in a great role."

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Award Category Recipients Result
Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead Judy Davis Won
Best Supporting Female Emma Thompson Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Impromptu (1991)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  2. "Impromptu (1991)". BBFC. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  3. "Château des Briottieres". frenchentree.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  4. Kallberg, Jeffrey (1997). "Nocturnal Thoughts on Impromptu". The Musical Quarterly. 81 (2). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 20 October 2018 – via JSTOR.
  5. ^ Corbett, Patricia (7 January 1990). "FILM; In 'Impromptu,' It's George Sand And Chopin Again the 1830's?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  6. "Impromptu". PBS.org. Archived from the original on 9 November 2004. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  7. "Impromptu (1991)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. Millar, Jeff (3 May 1991). "'Impromptu' a rewarding look at sexes". Houston Chronicle.
  9. Ebert, Roger (3 May 1991). "Impromptu Movie Review & Film Summary (1991)". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  10. ^ Maslin, Janet (12 April 1991). "Review/Film; Chopin, George Sand, Liszt and Some Others". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  11. Rafferty, Terrence. "Impromptu". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  12. Fox, David (30 March 1992). "'Rose' and 'Idaho' Get the Spirit : Movies: Each takes three trophies in the offbeat independent counterpoint to tonight's Academy Awards". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  13. "Impromptu - Awards". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2015. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.

External links

Films directed by James Lapine
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