Tosca - Puccini
2002
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 .. Read more
| Starring | Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Ruggero Raimondi, Royal Opera House Orchestra |
|---|---|
| Director | Benoit Jacquot |
| Genres | Music/Musical, World Cinema |
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Tosca - Puccini
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.
| Starring | Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Ruggero Raimondi, Royal Opera House Orchestra, Royal Opera Chorus |
|---|---|
| Director | Benoit Jacquot |
| Studio | OPUS ARTE MEDIA PRODUCTIONS |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 21 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Music/Musical, World Cinema |
| Language | Italian |
| Subtitles | English |
| Released | DVD: 30 Jun 2003 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (5)
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"...Altogether, this is successful as a film, while at the same time being a most touching reconsideration of the familiar masterpiece..."
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"...[Jacquot] conveys the heaving passion of Puccini's famous love-jealousy-murder-suicide fandango with great cinematic innovation..."
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Most helpful member's review
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22 out of 25 people found this review helpful
A Tosca to die for flawed by gimmicks
This Tosca is almost perfect, wonderful singing, great orchestral playing, fine production. Unfortunately it is flawed because of a director who states he does not know why he was asked to direct the film, says he does not understand opera and who seems to have no aesthetic feeling for film.
Georghiu is simply superb as Tosca, I am a tremendous fan and this is the greatest performance I have ever seen from her. Then the wonderful chemistry with her husband Alagna as Cavarodossi, these actors and the characters are really in love with each other.
Raimondi as Scarpia is a revelation, no melodrama here, real menace and threat and evil dominating everything he does, the conflict with Tosca in Act 11 is terrifying.
With all this perfection something as basic as film exposure is too contrasty and highlights are burnt out to a pure white, for no known reason black and white excerpts (once again with burnt out highlights) from the audio recording sessions are intercut. Worst of all on two occasions the singing is moved to the background and the singers speak the lines voice over. Fortunately the DTS soundtrack is excellent.
The flaws are a tragedy as this was probably a unique opportunity for Georghiu and Alagna to film Tosca with all the freshness they bring to this performance. -
Most recent members' review
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22 out of 25 people found this review helpful
A Tosca to die for flawed by gimmicks
This Tosca is almost perfect, wonderful singing, great orchestral playing, fine production. Unfortunately it is flawed because of a director who states he does not know why he was asked to direct the film, says he does not understand opera and who seems to have no aesthetic feeling for film.
Georghiu is simply superb as Tosca, I am a tremendous fan and this is the greatest performance I have ever seen from her. Then the wonderful chemistry with her husband Alagna as Cavarodossi, these actors and the characters are really in love with each other.
Raimondi as Scarpia is a revelation, no melodrama here, real menace and threat and evil dominating everything he does, the conflict with Tosca in Act 11 is terrifying.
With all this perfection something as basic as film exposure is too contrasty and highlights are burnt out to a pure white, for no known reason black and white excerpts (once again with burnt out highlights) from the audio recording sessions are intercut. Worst of all on two occasions the singing is moved to the background and the singers speak the lines voice over. Fortunately the DTS soundtrack is excellent.
The flaws are a tragedy as this was probably a unique opportunity for Georghiu and Alagna to film Tosca with all the freshness they bring to this performance. -
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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 ... -