Chopin, Chopin!

"Chopin, Chopin!" finds Polish director Michal Kwiecinski tackling one of classical music's most romanticized figures. Set in Paris in 1835, the film follows Frédéric Chopin (Eryk Kulm) as he balances artistic ambition with failing health—composing, teaching, performing, and navigating the salons of the aristocracy. The production is handsomely mounted, with period costumes and locations that evoke the golden age of Romanticism. Kulm brings a delicate intensity to Chopin, capturing both the composer's brilliance and his fragility.

Where the film excels is in its restraint during musical sequences. We're not subjected to the usual biopic montages of frantic scribbling; instead, Kwiecinski lets the performances breathe. The relationship with George Sand (Joséphine de La Baume) is sketched with nuance rather than melodrama. Victor Meutelet makes a memorable Franz Liszt, radiating the charisma that made him Chopin's friendly rival.

The film has drawn criticism for its graphic depiction of Chopin's tuberculosis—the coughing of blood is unflinching—and for a narrative that some find more interested in atmosphere than momentum. There's truth to that. "Chopin, Chopin!" is meditative, even sluggish in stretches. It favors mood over plot. For viewers who appreciate biographical dramas that resist the temptation to sensationalize, Kwiecinski's approach will feel refreshing. For others, it may test patience. As a portrait of artistic life in 19th-century Paris, it succeeds. As conventional entertainment, it's more of a slow burn.