The Magic Flute (2006)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writers:

Emanuel Schikaneder (libretto)
Kenneth Branagh (adapted for the screen by)

Release Date:

13 December 2006 (France)

Genre:

Music

Plot:

A prince and his companion battle evil forces to rescue a princess. |

Plot Keywords:

Persecution | Fictional War | Escape | Opera

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Joseph Kaiser	...	Tamino
Amy Carson	...	Pamina
René Pape	...	Sarastro
Lyubov Petrova	...	Queen of the Night
Benjamin Jay Davis	...	Papageno
Silvia Moi	...	Papagena
Tom Randle	...	Monostatos
Ben Uttley	...	Priest
Teuta Koço	...	First Lady
Louise Callinan	...	Second Lady
Kim-Marie Woodhouse	...	Third Lady
Rodney Clarke	...	First Officer
Charne Rochford	...	Second Officer
Peter Wedd	...	First Armed Man
Keel Watson	...	Second Armed Man

Also Known As:

La flûte enchantée (France)

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Norway:7 | Ireland:PG | Finland:K-7 | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:13 | Chile:Y7

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Idéale Audience

Trivia:

Cameo: [James Conlon]The conductor appears as an officer, reassuring the nervous private at the end of the long tracking shot during the chorus in the trench.

Movie Connections:

Version of "ABC Weekend Specials: The Magic Flute (#14.2)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

The Magic Flute

Good-humoured, fresh and inventive screen-staging

Branagh starts as he means to go on - a daring, 'one-shot' sequence for the opera's overture, as an abstracted version of early 20th century conflict in cartoonish primary colours. It's at once humorous and disturbing, and (with it's digital gloss) indicates his intentions for the rest of the film.

The film uses opera singers miming to their own studio recording. This works well, freeing up the performers to really throw themselves into the drama. Joseph Kaiser is a striking and sympathetic leading man: Amy Carson, a gorgeous, bright-eyed, charming Pamina. Their mutual attraction is very natural and convincing. René Pape's Sarastro is a youthful Solomon, though necessarily restraining himself from the lustfulness that intoxicates most of the other characters. Ben Davis' Papageno and Tom Randle's Monostatos are frustrated opposites played off Pamina's chastity. Lyubov Petrova's Queen of the Night and her Three Ladies are quite a kinky gang - thank goodness for the simple charm of the Three Boys.

Around this characterful core there is a marvellous web of computed animated fantasy and flashback. There are also plenty of in-screen effects and inventive shooting. I particularly liked the fiery Queen of the Night filmed, mid-coloratura, with a semi fish-eye lens making her look completely bonkers.

A heavily stylised, entertaining run out of The Magic Flute. It may not be the best way to encounter the opera properly. It's profusion of ideas often works in conflict with the natural progression of the drama as scored by Mozart. There's plenty to enjoy though.