...a grand, romantic life story about love, loss, regret and the sadness that can be evoked by a violin — not only through music, but through the instrument itself.

Just as the plot combines fantastical and biographical elements—some of it is reportedly based on Satrapi’s own family legends—so the filmmaking veers from straightforward to more outsized.

Sit in the front – and don't peer too hard – and 'Chicken With Plums' casts an undeniable spell. It is bold, exotic and distinctive...