Callas Forever (2002)

A fictionalized account of the last days of opera singer Maria Callas (Ardant).

Director:

Franco Zeffirelli

Writers:

Franco Zeffirelli (original idea), Martin Sherman (scenario),

Stars:

Fanny Ardant, Jeremy Irons, Joan Plowright

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fanny Ardant	...	Maria Callas
Jeremy Irons	...	Larry Kelly
Joan Plowright	...	Sarah Keller
Jay Rodan	...	Michael
Gabriel Garko	...	Marco / Don Jose
Manuel de Blas	...	Esteban Gomez
Justino Díaz	...	Scarpia
Jean Dalric	...	Gerard
Stephen Billington	...	Brendan
Anna Lelio	...	Bruna
Alessandro Bertolucci	...	Marcello
Olivier Galfione	...	Thierry
Roberto Sanchez	...	Escamillo
Achille Brugnini	...	Ferruccio
Eugene Kohn	...	Eugene

Storyline

This is 1977. Maria Callas; the most famous diva in the world, lives confined in her Paris apartment. Larry Kelly, a producer friend, offers her to sing Carmen in a televised concert. Unfortunately Maria's voice, tired and worn by years and strain, is not what it used to be. Larry knows the way around the problem : a technical stratagem will create the illusion. Maria, disregarding her friend Sarah's warning, agrees with the idea and the show is a tremendous success. With that in mind, Larry now considers a new version of "Tosca". But this time, Maria objects to the subterfuge. Her decision will mark the beginning of the end for the legendary singer...

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Plot Keywords:

singer | opera | concert | opera singer | diva | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and strong language

Details

Official Sites:

bac films [fr] (French) Official site [us]

Country:

Italy France Spain UK Romania

Language:

English French Italian Spanish

Release Date:

18 September 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

Ikuisesti Callas

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$37,855 (USA) (5 November 2004)

Gross:

$445,996 (USA) (10 June 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Galfin, Medusa Produzione, Babe Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

The film is set in 1977, however extras are seen wearing modern (2001/2) clothes and modern cars are seen in the background.

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Connections

Referenced in Le code a changé (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Donna non vidi mai"
from "Manon Lescaut"
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Nicola Rossi Giordano

User Reviews

Wonderful

This is a masterful film; I caught it at a gay film festival, but I don't understand why it hasn't been released. From the opening scenes with Jeremy Irons as an agent and a punk rock song playing in the background, you know you'in in the hands of a masterful storyteller. Zeffirelli structures the plot as the creation of a masterpiece that got away; a fictional film version of "Carmen." The conceit of the film is that Callas (late in her life) has been persuaded to make a film of Carmen (a role she had only recored but never sung). Since her voice is past its primew, she lip-syncs herself. This brilliant premise allows Fanny Ardant (who is simply brilliant as Callas) to lipsync to old Callas recordings. It also enables Zeffirelli to include several spectacular scenes from "Carmen" as part of the plot. I would rank this among the very best films about opera ever made.