UB Spotlight: Director Stephen Williams Talks ‘Chevalier’

“Chevalier” is directed by Stephen Williams, starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Ronke Adekoluejo, Minnie Driver, Alex Fitzalan, Sian Clifford, and Marton Csokas.

The film releases only in theaters tomorrow, April 21st via Searchlight Pictures.

Inspired by the incredible story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, Bologne (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist/composer and fencer, complete with an ill-fated love affair and a falling out with Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) and her court.

Set in 18th Century France, “Chevalier” unfolds the vivid, timely story of the soaring rise and defiant spirit of the musical phenomenon, Joseph Bologne, aka the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The Chevalier was what we would call today a superstar—a blinding multi-talent at the top of several games: he was a virtuoso violinist who gave packed concerts; a champion swordsman; an ingenious composer; and, for a time, one of the most alluring, unexpected members of Marie Antoinette’s glittering court.

Historians have long struggled to document Bologne’s life. With his papers and his music destroyed in Napoleonic times, little is known of his inner experiences moving in the sphere of the elites. Director Stephen Williams and screenwriter Stefani Robinson aimed to give Bologne a fresh, contemporary life on screen. With many of the details imagined based on extensive research of the period, “Chevalier” is a buoyant and aspiring vision of a man driven to create and to truly be who he was, no matter the expectations put upon him, or the dreams forbidden to those like him.

Stephen Williams was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, where his love of visual storytelling began. Williams’ breakthrough came when his first film, “Soul Survivor,” which he wrote and directed, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim. Williams directed over 25 episodes of “Lost“, becoming an integral part of the show as a resident director and co-executive producer.

In 2019, Williams signed on to be an executive producer/director for HBO’s “Watchmen.” It earned him both an DGA Outstanding Directorial Achievement nomination and an Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series Emmy nomination.

Aries from UB, spoke to Stephen Williams about his new movie “Chevalier,” and why he wanted to bring this story to film.

Stephen speaks on the cast and experience working with the magnificent Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Plus he shares why people should go out and see the film and what’s next for him!