3/5 Not What I had Hoped For
  by Randy Keehn (Williston, ND United States)
I am a big fan of Tchaikovsky so I looked forward to hearing and finding out more about him and his music. The structure of the film was well-done as we start with telling scenes from his youth and young adulthood. He was an innovator with his music and we are shown why. We seem to settle in on his career as an established composer of World reknown. His friends, his detractors, his love interests all weave in and out of the bulk of the film. For that aspect of "Tchaikovsky" the movie deserves a 4 Star rating. What bothered me about this film was an admittedly selfish perspective. I was missing "1812 Overture", "Marche Slav" as well as all but a brief movement from "Nutcracker Suite". I was glad to "discover" that he composed operas and a lot more music than I was aquainted with. But when the film ended without my musical expectations being met, I rated my disappointment more than my approval by giving it 3 Stars. I'd gladly reconsider but, three days later, I still disappointed.

5/5 Piotr is alive here
  by Malinka (Vancouver, BC Canada)
A product of the late Soviet era, this film is a cluster of near-perfection in visual, sound and scenario, all of which with persuading Russianness.
One can hardly believe that all one sees are actors; Piotr is Piotr, in appearance and manners, so are Madame von Meck, Rubinstein and other characters.
The story is rather focused on the relationship between Piotr and Madame von Meck. Obviously the director wanted the film a work of art, not a documentary. Profound words of life's anguish and joy are unforgettable, and persuasive enough to explain the secrets of his music.
Visuals are aesthetic and deliberate. Interesting is the sound; rather than threading perfect recordings of familiar works, one often hears unfamiliar arrangement or unusual patchworking of tunes, as if they were resonating in the composer's head.
In short, this film makes one experience what it is like to be a contemporary of the great composer, or to be himself.










5/5 Bravo
  by Ellsworth G. Stanton (New York, NY)
This is an excellent film. Beautifully photographed. Russia as I imagined it at that period in history Very well acted.

3/5 Interesting
  by Rene Ruiz (Acapulco)
Interesting, of course the music is great, photography i good, but dramatisation is lousy.

1/5 THE DULL, THE BLAND AND THE INNOCUOUS
  by CORNO DI BASSETTO (NY)
FIRST LET ME SAY THAT I AM AN ARDENT TCHAIKOVSKYITE. I WOULD HAVE LOVED NOTHING MORE THAN TO HAVE A GOOD REVIEW ON THIS MOVIE. UNFORTUNEATELY I HAVE NOTHING BUT BAD NEWS. YES I CAN SAY IT. THIS IS THE WORSE MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE! IT IS MOSTLY A FABRICATION. VERY POOR STORY LINE, DIRECTION AND THE BLANDEST OF ACTING AND POOR CINEMATOGRAPHY ADD UP TO MAKE THIS TOTALY UNACCEPTABLE. ANY AMERICAN OR BRITISH DIRECTOR COULD HAVE DONE BETTER WITHOUT EVEN HALF TRYING. THERE IS NO DRAMA, NO CONTINUITY TO HOLD YOUR INTEREST. NOTHING TO INDUCE ME TO SEE IT AGAIN. IT AUGURS BADLY WHEN THE SOVIET COULD MUSTER THIS OUT AS A VIABLE FILM. "THE MUSIC LOVERS" LURID AND SLEAZY AS IT WAS WAS A MASTERPIECE NEXT TO THIS. THIS IS AN UTTER FAILURE IN THE ART OF FILM MAKING. COMPARE THIS WITH "LUST FOR LIFE" TO SEE HOW BIOS ON THE LIVES OF ARTISTS CAN BE MADE ENTHRALLING. STICK TO THE FACTS AND RECREATE THE SPIRIT OF THE MAN AND HIS TIMES. THIS WAS A COMPLETE FIASCO. I RATE IT "0".