The Last Violin returns triumphant

Award-winning documentary The Last Violin is returning to the north coast in July for an intimate screening, concert and film-maker Q&A at the Citadel in Murwillumbah.

The feature-length documentary about Australia’s great violin maker, Charalambos Vatiliotis (Harry), was a two-year labour of love by renowned musicians and Ballina locals Romano Crivici and Carla Thackrah.

The poignant film documents Crivici as he convinces the octogenarian luthier to make one last violin, the last of his extraordinary career.

Thackrah shot the documentary in one location: the Sydney suburban home in which Harry and his wife Maria have built a life since emigrating from Cyprus in the 1950s and have barely left for more than 60 years.

The exquisite score by Crivici, played entirely on instruments made by Harry by some of Sydney’s best classical musicians, underpins the year charting the making of the last violin within the context of the love, friendship and humour that each of the three protagonists shares.

Thackrah said it had been an incredibly eventful year since its debut.

“The film has recently won two Best Documentary Awards at the Cyprus International Film Festival in Nicosia and the Bridges International Film Festival in Athens.

“It’s been an amazing time, and we are thrilled to return home to present this special event.”

The evening includes a virtuosic performance by local musician (and surgeon) Hugh Won and a duo performance with Crivici.

Audiences are also invited to join the film-maker Q&A.

The Last Violin will screen at The Citadel in Murwillumbah on Thursday, July 25, at 6pm.

Tickets are available at events.humanitix.com/the-last-violin