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The Violinist

Play trailer Poster for The Violinist 2026 1h 54m Animation Drama Music History Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 7 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
The year is 1941. The dreams of two young musicians are shattered when Singapore is invaded by the Japanese during WW2. As their lives take vastly different paths, they must each come to terms with their place and purpose in a new reality, and to find hope in a world wrought with despair. Spanning 80 years of Singapore and Malaya history, it's a story about courage, conviction, resilience and how music can shine a light in the darkest of times.

Critics Reviews

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Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Sep 30, 2026
There’s a version that’s tighter narratively—the entire interview structure could go—and even visually, but this is a film that’s best appreciated as a sort of animated symphony: Let its beautiful rises and falls sweep you away. Go to Full Review Pat Mullen That Shelf Oct 1, 2026
The music and animation are exquisitely crafted and swell with an emotionally rewarding crescendo. Go to Full Review Eva Zhu NOW Toronto Sep 29, 2026
4/5
Fei’s and Kai’s shared passion for music adds a much needed thread of humanity and hope in an otherwise hard watch. Although, the writers may have glossed over the realities of learning an instrument. Go to Full Review Stephen Saito Moveable Fest Sep 27, 2026
Overall, "The Violinist" seems bound to pull audiences together from wherever they are when it effectively taps into such a universal sense of longing. Go to Full Review Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Sep 23, 2026
2.5/5
While the narrative sweep of this Spanish-coproduced Singaporean epic is impressive, there are niggling problems as we continually wonder why we are watching the story rendered with simple anime-style drawings rather than live-action. Go to Full Review Codie Allen fade in, breathe out (Substack) Sep 23, 2026
4/5
It’s definitely not a perfect movie, but there’s something really lovely about how much this film believes in the power of music and the people we carry with us long after they’re gone Go to Full Review Read all reviews
The Violinist

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Ervin Han

Director

Raul Garcia

Director

Kheng Hua Tan

Voice

Kazuya Tanabe

Voice

Adrian Pang

Voice

Ayden Sng

Voice
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The Violinist

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Movie Info

Synopsis The year is 1941. The dreams of two young musicians are shattered when Singapore is invaded by the Japanese during WW2. As their lives take vastly different paths, they must each come to terms with their place and purpose in a new reality, and to find hope in a world wrought with despair. Spanning 80 years of Singapore and Malaya history, it's a story about courage, conviction, resilience and how music can shine a light in the darkest of times.
Director
Ervin Han, Raul Garcia
Producer
Ervin Han, Paloma Mora, Cristiano Bortone, Raul Garcia
Screenwriter
Ervin Han, Jordan Katherine See
Genre
Animation, Drama, Music, History
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 54m
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