French director Benoit Jacquot (A SINGLE GIRL) adapts the famous opera by Giacomo Puccini in his film TOSCA. The stunningly dramatic opera stars--Angela Gheorghiu as Floria Tosca, Roberto Alagna as Mario Cavaradossi, and Ruggero Raimondi as Baron Scarpia--who steal the show with their intense vocal range and fiery acting. The film cuts back and forth between black and white photography that shows the singers and a full orchestra recording the opera in a studio, and color photography that shows the costumed presentation, act by act, with several different sets. Mario (Alagna) is painting a portrait on the wall of the chapel, inspired by a fair-haired beauty who he has just seen praying below. When his girlfriend, the possessive Diva Tosca (Gheorghiu) pays him a surprise visit, he must reassert his love for her, trying to ease her worries and her jealousy at seeing the painting. However, that night when a prisoner escapes, Mario is a suspected accomplice and he is wanted by the police. The evil Baron Scarpia (Raimondi) lies to Tosca, telling her that Mario ran off with the fair-haired beauty, and using her jealousy to get her to aid the police in his capture.
This film was included in the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2002 festival organized by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City.