It's difficult to say whether we should be pleased it's watchable rather than
wondering why it isn't better, but considering the
talent involved here, anything less than a good film is probably worthy of considering a major disappointment.
With a running time extending two hours, one
wonders if some of the minor supporting characters couldn't have been excised completely, particularly a romantic subplot
involving Lucien and Christa Theret as a provincial singer who actually has
talent (instead, a better developed Astrid Whettnall as a sympathetic mistress could have been a better use of screen time).