Boléro

The bulk of Anne Fontaine's film depicts the six years during which composer Maurice Ravel labored to write Boléro—one of the key works of the twentieth century. Through his relationships with dancer Ida Rubinstein—who commissioned the piece—as well as his muse Misia Sert and pianist Marguerite Long, the film offers a portrait that captures the tensions in Ravel's life and work. Chief among these is the tension between passion and rigor, as he strives to create music that embodies both precision and delicacy, as well as storm and sensuality. The result is enjoyable, elegant, and witty.