Series consists of scripts, multilingual translations, media coverage reports, photographs and the central prop for “The Red Violin”, arguably, Rhombus’ most ambitious and successful production to date. Written by Don McKellar and directed by Francois Girard, The Red Violin features scenes in French, English, Mandarin, Italian and German, requiring significant translation and subtitling.
Filmed on location in Chicheley Hall and Oxford in England, China, Cremona, Italy, Vienna, Austria and Montreal, the film traces the life and travels of the famous ‘red violin’, from its creation in 17th century Italy by the master Nicolo Bussotti (Carlo Cecchi), through it’s exodus from an 18th century Austrian monastery to 19th century Oxford, Cultural Revolution-era China to a Montreal auction house, where an appraiser (Samuel L. Jackson) and conservator (Don McKellar) try to establish its authenticity and provenance.
The film features actors Jean-Luc Bideau, Jason Flemyng, Sylvia Chang, Julian Richings and Colm Feore. Violin solos used in the musical score were performed by Joshua Bell.
The Red Violin received significant critical acclaim. The film swept the 1999 Genie Awards, picking up trophies for art direction (Francois Séguin), cinematography (Alain Dostie), costume design (Renée April), musical score, sound (Claude La Haye, Jocelyn Caron, Bernard Gariépy Strobl, Hans Peter Strobl), best screenplay (Don McKellar and Francois Girard), direction (Froncois Girard) and best motion picture. For the Jutra Awards of 1999, the film also took awards in the areas of art direction, best cinematography, editing (Gaétan Huot), best supporting actor (Colm Feore) score, sound, screenplay, direction, and best film.
It also won the 2000 Oscar for best original musical score (John Corigliano).