Impromptu (1991)

In 1830s France, pianist/composer Frédéric Chopin is pursued romantically by the determined, individualistic woman who uses the name George Sand.

Director:

James Lapine

Writer:

Sarah Kernochan

Stars:

Judy Davis, Hugh Grant, Mandy Patinkin

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Judy Davis	...	George Sand / Aurora
Hugh Grant	...	Frederic Chopin
Mandy Patinkin	...	Alfred De Musset
Bernadette Peters	...	Marie D'Agoult
Julian Sands	...	Franz Liszt
Ralph Brown	...	Eugene Delacroix
Georges Corraface	...	Felicien Mallefille
Anton Rodgers	...	Duke D'Antan
Emma Thompson	...	Duchess D'Antan
Anna Massey	...	George Sand's Mother
David Birkin	...	Maurice
Nimer Rashed	...	Didier
Fiona Vincente	...	Solange
John Savident	...	Buloz
Lucy Speed	...	Young Aurora

Storyline

Novelist George Sand ('Judy Davis' ) falls in love with composer Frédéric Chopin (Hugh Grant). She tries to profess her love for him at a weekend hosted by a pretentious, artistically minded duchess for famous musicians, artists, and writers of the day. The gentle and sickly Chopin is wary of the outspoken Sand, but finds himself strangely drawn to her, as well.

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Plot Keywords:

george sand | frédéric chopin | composer | 1830s | illness | 

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chopin - min elskede

Filming Locations:

Château des Briottières, Champigné, Maine-et-Loire, France

Box Office

Gross:

$4,076,211 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

C.L.G. Films, Governor Productions, Les Films Ariane

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

George Sand: [George is looking over the script of Alfred's new play] The style's a bit precious. Mind if I rewrite it?
Alfred: Not at all. We'll have a horse sent in.

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Connections

Version of A Song to Remember (1945)

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Soundtracks

"Nocturne Op.15, No.1 in F"
Music by Frédéric Chopin

User Reviews

Delightful

This film is a little different than most "period" films in that its characters, although known historical figures, are real people and certainly not above swearing, throwing fits, drinking, smoking or carousing. A wonderful comedy romance with an outstanding performance by Judy Davis as George Sands.

It is also interesting to note how closely the plot of this movie resembles that of Renoir's classic "Rules of the Game": 1) group of romantically and socially inbred cityfolk go to the country, 2) romantic and social inbreeding continue in the country, 3) people slipping from room to room, 4) mistaken identity, 5) hunting in the woods, 6) big hunting scene, 7) gender-bending, 8) poking fun at the upper classes, and 9) climactic theater performance chock full of satire and causing some conflict. This similarity can be no accident.