The Legend of 1900 (1998) - a masterpiece

[Allegra]

I can't rave enough about this film. A stunning production, deeply moving, it won a well-deserved Golden Globe. The talented Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore did a marvellous job with every touch thoughtful and classic. Tim Roth's acting is absolutely superb! And the soundtrack is fabulous too. The storyline is:

On the very first day of the new century, a baby boy is found on the passenger ship, Virginia. the orphan is brought up in secret by the ship's coal room worker hidden from the world and never knowing any other life that the belly of the ship. He is known as "1900".

When the boy's father is killed in an accident, 1900's identity becomes known to the rest of the ship when he wanders into first class and proves to be a prodigy on the grand piano. 1900 stays on board the ship, entertaining the world, 2000 people at a time.

Three decades later, The Virginian is a rusted hull, due for demolition. Just one man remembers the former beauty of the ship, the legend that was 1900, and the strange fact that the pianist just disappeared when the ship was taken out of business. He suspects that 1900 may still be on board the doomed ship. And so the search begins...

A video clip of a scene: YouTube - Magic Waltz from "The Legend Of 1900"

To use the usual phrase of Amazonians - do yourself a favour, buy it, rent it, steal it - just watch it!

[MG1962]

Originally Posted by Allegra

I can't rave enough about this film. A stunning production, deeply moving, it won a well-deserved Golden Globe. The talented Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore did a marvellous job with every touch thoughtful and classic. Tim Roth's acting is absolutely superb! And the soundtrack is fabulous too. The storyline is:

On the very first day of the new century, a baby boy is found on the passenger ship, Virginia. the orphan is brought up in secret by the ship's coal room worker hidden from the world and never knowing any other life that the belly of the ship. He is known as "1900".

When the boy's father is killed in an accident, 1900's identity becomes known to the rest of the ship when he wanders into first class and proves to be a prodigy on the grand piano. 1900 stays on board the ship, entertaining the world, 2000 people at a time.

Three decades later, The Virginian is a rusted hull, due for demolition. Just one man remembers the former beauty of the ship, the legend that was 1900, and the strange fact that the pianist just disappeared when the ship was taken out of business. He suspects that 1900 may still be on board the doomed ship. And so the search begins...

A video clip of a scene: YouTube - Magic Waltz from "The Legend Of 1900"

To use the usual phrase of Amazonians - do yourself a favour, buy it, rent it, steal it - just watch it!

Its funny as soon as I saw the thread title, my mind flashed to that amazing piano scene that you linked. But yes I have to agree with you - an extremely unheralded film, that tells a wonderful at at times soulful story

[Allegra]

Glad you enjoyed it too. It's very much underrated, just like some other brilliant European (and Canadian) films. If not because a friend of mine urged me to watch it I wouldn't have heard of it. European film makers seem less concerned about marketing factor (they can't compete with Hollywood anyway) and more faithful to their aesthetic ideas.

[Foxbat]

Never seen this film but I rate Tornatore's work highly so I will have to make the effort to see this

[MG1962]

Originally Posted by Allegra

Glad you enjoyed it too. It's very much underrated, just like some other brilliant European (and Canadian) films. If not because a friend of mine urged me to watch it I wouldn't have heard of it. European film makers seem less concerned about marketing factor (they can't compete with Hollywood anyway) and more faithful to their aesthetic ideas.

When I saw the film, I have to admit I did not realise it was a non Hollywood piece. At the time I thought it was a bit on the arty side for the mainstream US market, but now you mention its pedigree, it makes a lot more sense.

I think the secret to European film making, is the state sponsored nature of a lot of it. Innovative young directors get to make absolute stinkers and exploratory films without the pressure of commercial value.

Those who's experiments have real value then get the oppotunity to bring those skills to more mainstream cinema, hence creating a very different tone and style to US films.

To be fair to Hollywood - watch some Bollywood stuff - sort of like moving Mills and Boon lol