53. Opera Mundi: Rigoletto Experientia; movie review

 

OPERA MUNDI: RIGOLETTO EXPERIENTIA

Cert TBA

101 mins

BBFC advice: TBA

We have only once experienced an opera live and rarely see it on the big screen so I was looking forward to what I thought would be a performance of Rigoletto.

However, that is not exactly what is presented in Paolo Fiore Angelini's film.

Instead it wanders off into unconnected scenes, supplemented by an occasional and welcome slip back into Verdi's opera.

Indeed, we found the movie to be so higgledy-piggledy, it was impossible to follow. 

This is yet another documentary without explanation so I can only presume that the singing is from Rigoleletto and, according to the imdb listing, it includes Vladimir Stoyanov, Raffaele Abete and Scilla Cristiano.

They act out key scenes, either in rehearsal, in headshots, wearing black with a black background or very occasionally, on stage in front of a live audience.

There are also songs from a young choir who are similarly dressed in black with a black backdrop.

The confusion is exacerbated by translations only being offered for part of the time. 

Frankly, opera is difficult enough when it is played out in its entirety with subtitles but this would have needed a devotee of Rigoletto to understand what is going on.

Then there are backstreet scenes from what I first thought were Bologna but could have, frankly, been anywhere along with lingering cameras over parks, portraits of faces and a volcano erupting.

But what does it all mean? I gave up trying to work it out and just enjoyed the singing which was worth the four marks on its own. The rest of the film didn't deserve any.

Reasons to watch: The quality of the singing

Reasons to avoid: Impossible to follow

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 4/10

Did you know? Rigoletto was the product of a commission to Giuseppe Verdi by La Fenice - the opera house in Venice.

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