The Red Violin (1998) – Filming Locations
Drama / Thriller / Mystery / Music / Romance · Directed by François Girard · Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Irene Grazioli
300 years of a remarkable musical instrument. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin has traveled through Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake. In Montreal, Samuel L Jackson plays an appraiser going over its complex history.
Where was The Red Violin filmed?
- Montreal, Canada, Montreal – Auction house sequences where the red violin is being appraised and sold. The museum's auction galleries frame the opening mystery of the violin's provenance and value
- Oxford, United Kingdom, Oxford – The English virtuoso's story, depicting his life as an Oxford student and musician. Historic Oxford architecture and streets authentically portray the 18th-century English musical period
- Bologna, Italy, Bologna – The Italian craftsman's story and the creation of the red violin in 17th-century Italy. Bologna's Renaissance architecture and workshops evoke the violinmaker's artistic milieu
- Vienna, Austria, Vienna – The Viennese musician's period depicting classical era performances and court life. Vienna's classical architecture authentically renders the 18th-century Habsburg musical world
- China, Beijing – The Chinese musician's story set during the Cultural Revolution period. On-location shooting in China captures the violin's journey through mid-20th century Chinese turmoil
- Rome, Italy, Rome – The Papal connection and Italian narrative threads of the violin's history. Rome's architectural grandeur provides authentic period setting for the violin's blessed origins story