Violinist Chevalier de Saint-Georges Biopic to be Released

Directed by Stephen Williams, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in late 2022 and will see its wider release this June

The biographical drama film CHEVALIER, which had its premiere in 2022, is due for digital release on June 16, 2023. It will be available on a range of platforms, including Apple TV+, Prime Video, Vudu, and more.

The film follows the effect that the French Revolution had on Saint-Georges's life, focusing on his uncommon skill both as a musician and as a swordsman. The plot sees Saint-Georges travel to Paris, where he is the only black man at the academy of music.

CHEVALIER also traces the relationship between Saint-Georges and Marie Antoinette. It is known that the queen often attended Saint-Georges's concerts at the Hôtel de Soubise, and that he was eventually admitted to her close circle of intimates.

Born around 1739 in the French colony of Guadeloupe, Saint-Georges was the son of a French former councilor and plantation owner, and a Senegalese slave woman. As a young child, he was taken to France, where he trained as a swordsman and received music lessons from François-Joseph Gossec.

A contemporary of Mozart, Saint-Georges rose to the top of the musical world in France despite significant discrimination against him. His works have recently undergone a revival, and are being programmed increasingly by organizations throughout the country.

You can view the trailer for the film below.