The ConductorThe Conductor
(2018)
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The Conductor

A young woman dreams of becoming a conductor, but faces prejudice and emotional strain on her journey to success.

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Why watch this film?

Have you heard of Antonia Brico? She was one of the most exceptional orchestra conductors of the last century. As a woman, she faced a lot of prejudice, but she did not give up on her dreams. The movie tells the inspiring story of Antonia, how she became the first woman to lead the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. As with many professions, the music industry was mostly dominated by men, especially in the 1920s. Thanks to the conductor, the scene changed a bit with the founding of the Women's Symphony Orchestra in 1939 in the United States. Nowadays, men are also accepted and the name has been changed to Brico Symphony Orchestra, in honor of the founder. The life of the maestro is beautifully told, not only by the performance of Christanne de Bruijn, a Dutch actress known for her television series in the Netherlands, but also by the great script. It is important to mention that here in Brazil, in 1888, Chiquinha Gonzaga, a Brazilian composer, instrumentalist and maestrina, conducted her first orchestra, a few years before Antonia Brico.

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Plot summary

United States 1926: The Dutch, 24-year-old Antonia Brico was a child when she and her parents immigrated to the United States. She dreams of becoming a conductor, but nobody takes her ambition seriously. Her piano teacher advices her against taking the entrance exam for the conservatory. Because she has little to lose, she returns to her motherland, where she begs the famous conductor Mengelberg to teach her conducting lessons. Mengelberg is not comfortable with the idea and sends her to Berlin where she, against all expectations, has a better chance as a woman to make it. Emotional strain threatens to overwhelm her, when the love of her life puts her in a difficult position. What choice will Antonia make?

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