IMDb 7.3 1981 HD

Bolero

Bolero

1981
Drama Music
184 min NR France
6.9 / 10
7.3 IMDB

The film follows four families, with different nationalities (French, German, Russian and American) but with the same passion for music, from the 1930s to the 1960s. The various…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Claude Lelouch
Starring
Robert Hossein / Nicole Garcia / Geraldine Chaplin / Daniel Olbrychski / Jorge Donn / Rita Poelvoorde / Macha Méril / Évelyne Bouix

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

ambitious sweeping musical epic dramatic interconnected historical emotional sprawling thoughtful evocative complex

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
May 23, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The 1981 release ‘Boléro’ is a testament to the universal language of music, exploring its power to connect disparate lives across continents and decades. Following four families – French, German, Russian, and American – their stories unfurl against…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 23, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

‘Boléro’ is a cinematic undertaking of considerable scale, charting the interwoven lives of four musically inclined families across Europe and America from the 1930s to the 1960s. The film’s central conceit, that music connects us across time and…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 23, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that truly sings, even when its characters are grappling with profound hardship. ‘Boléro’ (1981) presents a rich, multi-national saga of four families bound by their passion for music, charting their lives from the jazz…

M
Marcus Bell
May 23, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

‘Boléro’ is a film with considerable ambition, aiming to capture the sweep of history through the intimate lives of musically inclined families. Set between the 1930s and 1960s, its narrative threads crisscross continents and decades, with the shadow…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 23, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

The 1981 epic 'Boléro' attempts a grand tapestry, weaving together four families from disparate nations – France, Germany, Russia, and America – all united by a fervent love of music. Spanning several decades, the film uses evolving musical…

FAQs

Absolutely. 'Bolero' uses the backdrop of the mid-20th century, particularly the Second World War, to explore how artistic passion endures and is shaped by extraordinary circumstances. The film delves into the personal lives of individuals connected to the music world, showing how their creative endeavours and personal relationships are affected by global conflict and societal shifts. It's a narrative about resilience and the enduring power of art amidst adversity.