Chopin – Eine Sonate in Paris film explores composer's private life

The new film “Chopin – Eine Sonate in Paris,” directed by Michał Kwieciński, depicts the life of Frédéric Chopin during his time in Paris in 1835. At age 25, Chopin was already a celebrated pianist and composer, admired by high society and King Louis Philippe I.

Moving away from the traditional image of a distant musical genius, the film portrays Chopin as a multifaceted individual—a socialite and dandy who used humor to mask personal vulnerabilities and a longing for his Polish homeland. The narrative follows his relationship with the writer George Sand and his struggle with progressing tuberculosis.

Lead actor Eryk Kulm portrays the composer, balancing the character's social elegance with the physical and emotional toll of his illness. The film highlights how his late nocturnes and piano sonatas served as expressions of his internal struggles and artistic will.