Chopin: Desire for Love (2002)

I have been a lover of Chopin, the man and his music, for years and years, and have always been fascinated by George Sand. I rented this film on DVD (with English dubbing) and watched it last night with great expectations. I recently purchased IMPROMPTU, the other Chopin/Sand biopic, and found it wandered quite far from the actual events of their lives. So, I was disappointed with that one, and was hoping CHOPIN: DESIRE FOR LOVE would be just what I wanted from a Chopin biography. It was not.What would be so hard about making a film based entirely, or at least mostly, on true events? Why do film-makers seem determined to turn the lives of these historic geniuses into soap opera frivolity? If you have ever read a biography on Chopin, or even just listened to his music, then you know what a highly intelligent, sensitive, perfectionist, almost otherworldly man he was. I want a movie about Chopin with an actor and a script that are as sensitive and detailed as he was. This film seemed like a cheap, made-for-TV movie with overacting, cheesy drama, and unnecessary sexual situations. I'm mainly referring to the scene of Solange frolicking nearly naked in the river in front of Chopin. There is no documented proof that there was ever anything beyond mild flirtation between Solange and Chopin, if there was even that. He was older, frail, and sickly, and she was young, sexy, and looking for money. She used him for sympathy, and he did have it for her. Oh, and the scene with the maid and Chopin! Completely made up for sex appeal! What were they thinking? Perhaps they just wanted to show that Chopin was starved for sex while living with Sand, but there were other ways to show that. Chopin would be sick over this one, and George Sand would never have stood for that under her own roof.Chopin struggled with depression and sickness, and even had a few hallucinations from time to time. His own genius mind drove him mad with striving for perfection in music, dress, and appearance. Neither movie I have seen has touched on this aspect of his life very well, if at all. They have portrayed him as a whining snob and not much else. There was far more to him. In my opinion, he was very misunderstood. This is just something else I would love to see played out on screen.On a positive note, there were a few little details in this movie that lovers of Chopin might really appreciate. For instance, in most scenes, the actor playing Chopin wears gray pants. This was Chopin's favorite color for his suits. There were also scenes of Chopin in a room with gray and green walls, which were the true colors of the wallpaper he chose for his apartment in Paris. I also liked the fact that the actress playing Sand in this film actually resembled the real woman, whereas in IMPROMPTU, Judy Davis looked nothing like her. They didn't even try with Davis, except to put her in a man's clothing. In the first party scene of this film, the actress is dressed and has her hair done exactly like Sand in a well known painting. I loved the way she looked here.All in all, I would have to say that for Chopin and Sand fans, this movie is severely lacking in historical truth and nuance. At the same time, for those who have no knowledge of Chopin's life, it must be very confusing, tedious, and hardly entertaining. I hope one day that a good, detailed biographical film will be made for Chopin. Perhaps lack of interest from the public is why we've had two duds about him. However, I think if a well made film were to be done, many people who never knew about Chopin would find themselves fascinated and wanting to know more about this amazing composer's sad and hauntingly beautiful life story.

I loved this movie. Pjotr Adamczik and Danuta Stenka are marvelous actors, I liked his delicate movements and her "real face". The pictures are beautiful the music is very well chosen and wonderfully performed. Sometimes the plot is a little "scatchy" especially for those who are not really expert in Chopin's (or Madame Sand's) life, but mostly follows the real history (e.g.the gray haired man, hanging around half drunk in Nohant is happen to be Hippolyte Chatiron, half brother of Sand). In spite of some rather primitive solution (the Russian brutes,the plastic eagles in Majorca...)the balance is definitely positive thanks to such delicate and subtle scenes as e.g. Madame Sand in the kitchen wiping her forehead, Chopin, coming home late at night, his walk in the alley and then - one of my favourite - meeting Jan, their conversation then Jan, watching his master, climbing upstairs...or the scene with Albert (Grzymala)and the discussion of Solange's marriage...or the last meeting of the angelic Maestro and Madame Sand (actually it happened so !) - really beautiful and delicate.Thanks, pan Antczak !

I play the piano myself, and I can tell you; Chopin's music is fantastic to play and listen to. Some of his greatest works can be heard in this movie, for example Piano Concerto Nr. 2 and Etude Nr. 12 Op. 10. This is a good film for those who wish to learn more about Chopin's life and music, and how he was as a person. In my opinion, the greatest moment in the film is when Chopin composes his Mazurka in D major, Op. 33. He hear his worker Jan play something on the violin, and from that he composes this Mazurka. (By the way: Those of you who play the piano; check out this mazurka - Op. 33 no. 3. It's a brilliant example of how Chopin could take folk music and turn it to the finest piece of art.)As I said: I great film, even for those who may not like Chopin or classical music, but enjoy a good film with good characters.

Desire for Love is an excellent film showing the life of Chopin. It strongly shows his fragility in life and passion for his music. Adanczyk plays the great composer giving us the compassion and sympathy for Chopin. The film covers his long-term relationship with Madame George Sands and the struggle between Chopin and Sands children. It is a sad love story, but makes one love Chopin even more for his sensitivity and love for Sands, his country, and his music. Throughout the whole film the best of Chopin is played. There is much more to the composer than the film portrays yet this film is an excellent introduction to his life. I did not want the film to end. His Waltz in A minor 17 plays throughout the film, which brings out a happiness yet a sadness in oneself.