BASILEUS QUARTET Movie Review

Il Quartetto Basileus

A well-regarded string quartet that has played, recorded, and toured together for decades is stunned by the sudden death of one of the four. His replacement turns out to be a fine musician but a much younger and livelier man, whose womanizing and drinking and occasional marijuana use appear outrageous and disruptive to the other three; but what really dogs this older trio—who have until now lived modestly and only for their music—is that the “wild” lifestyle of the new man doesn't seem to be taking its toll on his musicianship. As the quartet members, Omero Antonutti, Hector Alterio, Michel Vitold (the older, nearly monk-like musicians), and Pierre Malet (the new young whippersnapper) all give superbly, uh, orchestrated performances. The Basileus Quartet is an original and nicely executed piece, with a surprisingly potent aftertaste. Watch for American cult actress Mimsy Farmer (Hot Rods to Hell) in a cameo.

NEXT STOP … Un Coeur en Hiver, Vanya on 42nd Street, The Gig

1982 118m/C FR IT Pierre Malet, Hector Alterio, Omero Antonutti, Michel Vitold, Alain Cuny, Gabriele Ferzetti, Elisabeth Kreuzer; D: Fabio Carpi; W: Fabio Carpi; C: Dante Spinotti; M: Claude Debussy. VHS, LV TPV