Jecheon International Music & Film Festival Opens with "Musician" by Gregory Manu
A Story of Conflict and Harmony Among Four Performers
Capturing the Power of Music and Cinema Born During the Pandemic
Director Gregory Manu is speaking about his work at the press conference for the opening film "Musician" held on the 4th at the Jecheon Video Media Center in Jecheon, Chungbuk. Photo by Jecheon International Music Film Festival
Jecheon has been infused with the coolness of Cheongpung Lake, colored by music and film. The 21st Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) kicked off on September 4, 2025, at the Jecheon Video Media Center in Jecheon, Chungbuk, with a press screening of the opening film. The first film to be screened this year, "Musician" by French director Gregory Manu, captures the intersection of music and film through the conflicts and harmony of four performers, symbolically representing the starting point that the music film festival aspires to.
"Musician" begins with the story of violinist Astrid, who pursues her father's dream by gathering legendary Stradivarius instruments to organize a world-class quartet performance. The performers have only six days until the concert. Liz, George, Peter, and Apolline, the four musicians, struggle to play together during rehearsals, as each is caught up in a battle of pride. Unable to find a solution, Astrid seeks out a composer as the last key to save the performance, and the conflicts reach their peak. The film persistently follows the process of musicians completing a single piece amid the tension of collaboration, highlighting the rhythm and resonance of the performance scenes that can only be fully experienced in a theater.
The film was born during the pandemic. At the press conference, director Gregory Manu shared, "I wrote it in a small cafe in Paris," and added, "After experiencing two long lockdowns in France due to COVID-19, I was afraid that audiences might never return to theaters." He continued, "Watching a neighbor who is a violinist prepare for an opera audition, I realized that even a piece I already know can sound completely different depending on the hands of the performer. I thought that if I could capture that moment in a film, it would give audiences a reason to return to theaters."
Of the four performers in the film, three are actual musicians, and one is an actor skilled with instruments. The casting process was as intense as selecting real musicians. Director Manu searched as far as Germany and Belgium to find them. He explained, "I revised the script to match the personalities of the performers, and even rewrote the music to fit the atmosphere on set. The four actors exchanged real tension, and that energy overlapped with the film's narrative, making it come alive as if it were real."
The music was not written in a complete form from the beginning. The composer observed the musicians handling their instruments and revised the pieces accordingly, with the tension and conflicts on set directly influencing the evolution of the music. Director Manu explained, "The real relationships among the performers flowed in parallel with the film's narrative. The music fully absorbed their personalities and the tension between them."
Jang Hangjun, the executive chairman, is explaining the reason for selecting the opening film "Musician" at the Jecheon Video Media Center in Jecheon, Chungbuk, on the 4th. Photo by Jecheon International Music & Film Festival
When asked about the nature of the film, he replied, "'Musician' is a whispering comedy for the audience." He explained, "It's not a film that draws laughter through lines or gestures, but rather, humor arises from the small moments as the four performers gradually open up to each other." Regarding his expectations for Korean audiences, he added, "Korean humor is similar to that of France. This screening will be an opportunity to see if this comedy can resonate globally."
The final performance in the cathedral, which serves as the ending scene, encapsulates the power of music, as well as the power of theaters and cinema. The director said, "I wanted to capture the four performers looking at each other and synchronizing their breathing. If this scene alone remains after the film ends, I would consider it a success." Regarding the scene where the four performers sing a folk song together in front of the fireplace, he said, "I wanted to capture the moment of sharing the joy that music brings. That is the essence of both film and music."
Director Manu also offered his interpretation of "harmony." He said, "Bringing together talented actors does not automatically create harmonious acting. The same is true for music. Suppressing one's ego does not produce harmony. True harmony, I believe, comes from the process of maintaining one's individuality while still coming together. That is when the most interesting results emerge."
Executive Chairman Jang Hangjun explained the reason for selecting the opening film: "Among more than 1,500 submissions, it was a work in which music was central, yet it also possessed both mass appeal and emotional resonance. There was no reason to hesitate." He continued, "'Musician' shows how the pride of artists clashes, but ultimately transforms into understanding and healing through music. The power of great music lies in bringing together different people as one on stage. The film allowed this process to unfold gradually, like music, without exaggeration."
Director Manu, who has worked mainly in France, is visiting Asia for the first time. He said, "Today is my first day in Korea-more precisely, my seventh hour here-and yet I already feel a sense of familiarity." He added, "Through Korean films, I have seen the subtle emotions and communication styles of Korean people. I don't think France and Korea are that far apart. There is also a high level of interest in Korean culture and food in France." Reflecting on his ten years as a journalist, he said, "The attitude of listening to people's stories carries over into my filmmaking. I believe I will be able to learn a lot in Korea as well."
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