"Chevalier"

Lost in the shuffle between the summer blockbusters and the SAG strike, this worthy film takes the story of a real person and depicts a struggle which many today would identify with.  Born to an enslaved woman in the Caribbean, Chevalier's British father brings him to England and, recognizing his talent with a violin, enrolls him in school, embuing him with title but not with family.  Chevalier becomes a brilliant musician and can be found in the best of high society at the time.  But there is always that thing -- being good, better perhaps, than some of his contemporaries, but never good enough -- for a Black man in 18th century London.  He believes in himself, that he can rise to any heights, but when he hits the wall of what he can be -- as a BLACK man -- his buried rage emerges.  This could have been a tale of the French Revolution.  It could have been a heavy-handed film.  It is not.  The film stays small, focused on Chevalier, and Chevalier only.  His layers and complexities are revealed by the talented Kelvin Harrison, who has a longer resume than you might think.  Mr. Harrison has played many small roles in many big films but this is his first turn as a lead and he carries it well -- with gravitas and talent.  It is a short film which will worm it's way into you, leaving you to ask ... what a waste of a gifted man.