A lot of fun.

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Classified in France as a Drama this film is full of laughs tempered with what is apparently based on a true and harrowing story. Others have already written about the plot so just enough here to say what a great film this is. Especially amusing was the issuing of their forged passports in the airport foyer under the noses of the guards. I loved the way that the various ex-orchestra members went their various ways with their enterprising money-making ventures, seizing the opportunity to make the most from their unexpected chance to go from impoverished Russia to Paris to make a fast buck. Especially impressive was the fact that Melanie Laurent spent a lot of time preparing for the role of violin virtuoso by studying under a professional violinist for several weeks beforehand - and it showed. Thoroughly recommended.

when I read the plot summary I thought oh this looks good Brezhnev persecuting the supremely talented Jewish musicians AND punishing the supremely talented MAESTRO who throws away his career to support the persecutees. and for helping them he ends up a cleaner. such a dramatic story full of heartache and desire.then I find that it is all made up and not very well made up. the makers can't decide if it is a story about persecution and overcoming the odds OR is it some kind of a comedy with the big guy with the beard. quite disappointing really (and I don't like Tchaikovsky).By the way I don't know who tramky is but he or she is obviously a jackass.

This film is about a renowned Russian conductor who got publicly humiliated 30 years ago for hiring Jewish musicians. He sorts out his unfinished business by gathering a group of friends to pretend to be the Bolshoi Orchestra."The Concert" treads a fine line, as it is not easy to make a film funny and serious at the same time. It manages that successfully, as it provides many comedic moments; I am particularly entertained by the negotiations between the French and the Russians, and how the Jewish musicians exercised their business acumen. The drama is engaging and emotional too, and the emotional climax is gracefully augmented by beautiful music. "The Concert" is a very good film.

Andrei Filipov, a talented Russian conductor, has been reduced to being a janitor in the theater that he loved and showed a promise some years ago. He had the audacity to defy the then president Brezhnev when he gave the order to fire all the Jewish musicians of the orchestra, by going ahead in a performance with all the Jewish musicians the higher ups wanted to banish. In fact, Filipov suffers the ultimate humiliation as he is conducting the Tchaikovski violin concerto. Ivan Gavrilov, the head of the Bolshoi comes to him on stage and proceeds to break his baton.Some years later, Filipov cleaning the Bolshoi's manager office, reads an incoming fax in which the head of the Chatelet theater in Paris is asking his Russian counterpart for an appearance since a slot has become available. Andrei has no problem in stealing the fax and sets out a plan in which to dupe the French into believing the real Bolshoi will be appearing at the Chatelet. For that he must ask his old rival, Gavrilov, to help him at last finish his rendition of the famous concert."Le concert" is a Russian-French co-production conceived and directed by Radu Mihaileanu, although it is based on a story by Hector Cabello Reyes and Thiery Degrandi. The comedy is basically seen from the Russian point of view. Andrei is able to assemble a motley crew of old Jewish musicians that were banned from playing in their native land because of prevailing prejudice against talented people that were seen as a threat to the government because of their intelligence.Andrei Filipov, through Gavrilov, demands the present of a young French violinist, Anne-Marie Jacquet, whose past, we get to know, has a connection with the maestro. The revelation is not earth shattering since the viewer has already guessed why Andrei wants Anne-Marie as the soloist for the Tchaikovski.Aleksei Guskov appears as Andrei Filipov, the disgraced musician. His sidekick is played by Dmitri Nazarov. Melanie Laurent makes an appealing Anne-Marie. Miou-Miou, Laurent Bateau and Francois Berland are seen in supporting roles.