










The film follows four families, with different nationalities (French, German, Russian and American) but with the same passion for music, from the 1930s to the 1960s. The various story lines cross each other time and again in different places and times, with their own theme scores that evolve as time passes. The main event in the film is the Second World War, which throws the stories of the four musical families together and mixes their fates. Although all characters are fictional, many of them are loosely based on historical musical icons (Édith Piaf, Josephine Baker, Herbert von Karajan, Glenn Miller, Rudolf Nureyev, etc.) The Boléro dance sequence at the end brings all the threads together.
Directed by Claude Lelouch, Bolero leans on a strong ensemble — Robert Hossein, Nicole Garcia, Geraldine Chaplin — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1981.
Read More on the Blog
Loading reviews…
A collection of vignettes highlighting different aspects of the life, work, and character of the acclaimed Canadian classical pianist.
Get weekly picks and blog posts in your inbox.