The Legend of 1900 - La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano (1998)

Synopsis

After seeing this movie I went straight to my video store to buy their copy. Unfortunately, they had only the one copy and wouldn't sell it to me. This movie affected me deeply.

It tells the story of a musical prodigy who is born, lives his entire life, and dies on board a cruise liner. The scene where the pianist, named 1900, and his friend "ride" the grand piano around the ballroom as the ship rolls brought me to tears.



There is a palpable joy in this scene : captivated by the music, they care not where the piano takes them.

And take them it does, through the glass wall of the ballroom and down a corridor where they are confronted by ship's the Captain.

He does not admonish the pair, just accepts the situation. When 1900 is challenged by jazz great Jelly Roll Morton to a piano duel, he meets the challenge and annihilates Morton with a performance that left me shaking.

I replayed that scene over and over. As a pianist myself, I was entranced, thrilled and amazed by the playing.

When 1900 delivers the coup de grace, I literally cheered! You must see this film. It is a very special experience. -- IMDb

Cast: Tim Roth, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Mélanie Thierry, Bill Nunn, Clarence Williams III, Peter Vaughan, Niall O'Brien, Gabriele Lavia

Locarno (Closing Night), San Sebastian, Toronto (Masters), AFI FEST (Centerpiece Gala)

Read about this film

Country: Italy
Language: English
Color: Color
Runtime: 160 minutes