Antoni, Tomasz and Mikołaj, all 16, review a new biopic of Poland’s most famous composer and key cultural icon
Eryk Kulm as Frédéric Chopin in ‘Chopin, Chopin!’ (2025).
November 14, 2025
Does the new Chopin film match the composer’s international fame?
The winners of the 2025 International Chopin Piano Competition were announced last month, once again bringing global attention to Warsaw and the enduring brilliance of Polish composer Fréderic Chopin (1810–1849). The overall winner, Eric Lu, is the first American in 50 years to win this prestigious event.
Just two weeks earlier, the film Chopin, Chopin! premiered, inviting audiences to rediscover the composer’s legacy from a modern perspective.
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The Chopin Competition is one of the few occasions when classical music hits the global headlines. Every five years, thousands of listeners around the world follow every note and cheer for their country’s participants. Chopin, Chopin! shows the same thing, that the legacy of Frédéric Chopin, one of the most prominent pianists of all time, is still alive.
Created by Polish producer, director and screenwriter Michał Kwieciński, the movie focuses on Chopin’s life in Paris, when he was in his mid-20s and already an acclaimed composer. It also heavily explores his multiple romantic interests, which had quite an impact on his life.
The film’s strengths are its cinematography and the immersive sound design, which use Chopin’s music in a very emotionally effective way.
The atmosphere is very gloomy and dark – many scenes take place at night or in dimly lit settings – and the overall mood is tragic. Still, thanks to the talent and charisma of Eryk Kulm, who plays Chopin, the film also contains humorous elements, which balance the overall tone.
However, the film struggles with character development and maintaining a concise plotline. Many characters are not given enough space to grow; for example, Chopin’s family members are introduced in a really shallow way, and not explored further. Most plot points are undeveloped and quickly abandoned.
The pacing is slow and sometimes veers on boring. The supporting cast is solid but not outstanding and therefore rather forgettable.
Polish audiences and fans of Chopin and classical music will probably appreciate this movie, but for others it might not be so engaging or relevant.
Chopin’s place in Poland
Poland and Frédéric Chopin are inseparable. He occupies a unique place in the country’s cultural memory. Chopin’s compositions are deeply rooted in Polish identity, where rhythms of mazurkas and polonaises reflect national traditions, while the emotional ‘touch’ of his works captures both pride and longing – feelings that Poles have experienced throughout their turbulent history.
His presence can be observed on a daily basis. The famous Chopin Monumentin Warsaw’s Łazienki Park is a key symbol of the city, attracting thousands of listeners to outdoor concerts every summer. His birthplace in Żelazowa Wola is a major museumand cultural site. Even Warsaw’s airport carries his name, which shows how strongly he represents the country, not only locally but to the world.
In this sense, Chopin, Chopin! is more than another biopic. It shows how Chopin’s music continues to inspire admiration, unity and a sense of belonging –- reminding the world that the composer remains one of Poland’s most enduring and treasured icons.
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