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Spans 300 years in the life of one famed musical instrument that winds up in present-day Montreal on the auction block. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin derives its unusual color from the human blood mixed into the finish. With this legacy, the violin travels to Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake.

Genres: Drama, Music, Mystery, Romance, Thriller

Starring: Carlo Cecchi, Irene Grazioli, Anita Laurenzi

Released: September 10, 1998

Runtime: 131.0

Popularity Rating: 7.726

Channel Four Films, Rhombus Media

Canada, Italy, United Kingdom

Nicolo Bussotti (Cremona) Carlo Cecchi
Anna Bussotti (Cremona) Irene Grazioli
Cesca (Cremona) Anita Laurenzi
Apprentice (Cremona) Tommaso Puntelli
Boy (Cremona) Samuele Amighetti
Georges Poussin (Vienna) Jean-Luc Bideau
Assistant (Cremona) Aldo Brugnini
Kaspar Weiss (Vienna) Christoph Koncz
Antoinette Pussin (Vienna) Clotilde Mollet
Anton von Spielmann (Vienna) Florentin Groll
Father Richter (Vienna) Johannes Silberschneider
Brother Christophe (Vienna) Rainer Egger
Brother Gustav (Vienna) Paul Koeker
Brother Michael (Vienna) Wolfgang Bock
Brother Franz (Vienna) Josef Mairginter
Funeral Monk (Vienna) Johan Gotsch
Gypsy Violonist (Vienna) Geza Hosszu-Legocky
Gypsy Violonist (Vienna) David Alberman
Prince Mansfeld (Vienna) Arthur Denberg
Gypsy Violonist (Vienna) Andrzej Matuszewiski
Frederick Pope (Oxford) Jason Flemyng
Victoria Byrd (Oxford) Greta Scacchi
Sara (Oxford) Eva Marie Bryer
Gypsy Father (Oxford) Dimitri Andreas
Conductor (Oxford) David Gant
Manservant (Oxford) (as Stuart Ong) Sai-Kit Yung
Xiang Pei (Shanghai) Sylvia Chang
Chou Yuan (Shanghai) (as Zi Feng Liu) Zifeng Liu
Comrade Chan Gong (Shanghai) Tao Hong
Young Ming (Shanghai) Xio Fei Han
Guard (Shanghai) (as Zeng Wei Tan) Zheng Wei Tan
Senior Policeman (Shanghai) Zhi Qing Zhou
Elderly Woman (Shanghai) Zhi Qiao
Deputy (Shanghai) Kun Qi Cao
Young Xian Pei (Shanghai) Rei Yang
Pawnbroker (Shanghai) Lidou
Charles Morritz (Montreal) Samuel L. Jackson
Auctioneer (Montreal) Colm Feore
Mme. Leroux (Montreal) Monique Mercure
Evan Williams (Montreal) Don McKellar
Mr. Ruselsky (Montreal) Ireneusz Bogajewicz
Nicolas Olsberg (Montreal) Julian Richings
Older Ming (Montreal) Russell Yuen
Madame Ming (Montreal) Sandra Oh
Suzanne (Montreal) Paula de Vasconcelos
Customs Agent (Montreal) Remy Girard
Hotel Concierge (Montreal) Marie-Josee Gauthier
Cabby (Montreal) Dany Laferriere
Secretary (Montreal) Dorothee Berryman
Handler (Montreal) David La Haye
Coat Attendant (Montreal) Gregory Hlady
Registrar (Montreal) Herman Meckler
Ruselsky's Companion (Montreal) Sheena Macdonald
Autograph Seeker (Montreal) Jody Shapiro
Stagehand (Montreal) James Bradford
Violinist (Oxford) (uncredited) Joshua Bell
Security Guard (uncredited) Sylvia Stewart
Junior Policeman (Shanghai) Wang Xiaoshuai

Directing — Director: Francois Girard
Writing — Writer: Don McKellar
Writing — Writer: Francois Girard