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The Death of Klinghoffer (2003)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Alice Goodman (libretto)
Plot:
An adaptation from the John Adams opera on the true life incident that took place in the mid 80s. | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Opera
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Palestinian
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Based On Opera
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Murder
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Hostage
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Awards:
2 wins
&
3 nominations
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NewsDesk:
User Comments:
I was enthralled for the entirety of this innovative film/opera
more (8 total)
Cast
(Credited cast)| Sanford Sylvan | ... | Klinghoffer | |
| Christopher Maltman | ... | Captain | |
| Yvonne Howard | ... | Marilyn Klinghoffer | |
| Tom Randle | ... | Molqui | |
| Kamel Boutros | ... | Mamoud | |
| Houda Echouafni | ... | Fatima | |
| Leigh Melrose | ... | Rambo | |
| Emil Marwa | ... | Omar | |
| Susan Bickley | ... | Omar (singing voice) | |
| Vivian Tierney | ... | Swiss Grandmother | |
| Dean Robinson | ... | First Officer | |
| Kirsten Blase | ... | British Dancing Girl | |
| Nuala Willis | ... | Austrian Woman | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Peter Banks | ... | Bernie, American Hostage | |
| Neil Bell | ... | Jim, British Hostage | |
| Rachel Bell | ... | Betsy, American Hostage | |
| Syan Blake | ... | Helen, British Hostage | |
| Ray Charleson | ... | Ben, Israeli Hostage | |
| Lara Clifton | ... | Lorraine, British Hostage | |
| Lin Clifton | ... | Mother | |
| Julie Cox | ... | Young Hannah | |
| Dylan Fielding | ... | Bob, American Hostage | |
| Kelli Hollis | ... | Lisa-Marie, American Hostage | |
| Juliette Kaplan | ... | Miriam, American Hostage | |
| Tony Kirkland | ... | Steve, British Hostage | |
| Della McCrae | ... | Grieving Relative | |
| Alec Newman | ... | Young Benjamin | |
| Rebecca R. Palmer | ... | Stella, British Hostage | |
| Alexander Popplewell | ... | Didi | |
| Joyce Springer | ... | Hannah | |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
120 min
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Language:
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Fun Stuff
Movie Connections:
Version of The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro (1989) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
The Death of Linghoffer
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I just saw the premiere at Sundance 1/23/2003. This film is an adaptation of Adams' wonderful opera of the same name about the 1985 takeover of the Achille Lauro cruise ship and the death of one of the passengers. The film's music is exceptional as conducted by the composer with the London Symphony Orchestra. The singers are more than adequate in this difficult score and the character of the singing is revelatory as most of it was recorded live on a cruise ship. The choruses were particularly moving.
The action was not filmed on stage, but on a real cruise ship and the suspension of disbelief is remarkable. The acting is in large part astounding as events and arias pass and the interactions between characters are completely believable, despite that they are singing--it's as if this is a view into an alternate world, where music and song are ubiquitous and this is a document--a profound documentary at that--of those few days aboard the ship. Beyond that, director Woolcock uses flashbacks, flashforwards, and archival footage of Palestinian and Zionist history in the years after World War II to create a truly epic and humane account of the tragic events that could lead two peoples to initiate such acts of hatred and violence against each other.
The film is an amazing adaptation of an opera that everyone should see if they are a lover of music and life--Adams and Woolcock have done a beautiful thing in making this work (hopefully) more accessible to everyone. In the program for the film it said something like, 'the film is sure to stir up heated discussion'--I believe the film will do something far more important: it will put to rest some of the questions and misunderstandings most of us have of the world and her peoples.