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IMDbPro

Carmen

  • 20032003
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Carmen (2003)
  • Drama
  • Romance
Based on the novel by Prosper Merimee, CARMEN is the classic tale of forbidden passion between a young man (Leonardo Sbaraglia) and a spoken-for woman, Carmen (Paz Vega). It is told in flash... Read allBased on the novel by Prosper Merimee, CARMEN is the classic tale of forbidden passion between a young man (Leonardo Sbaraglia) and a spoken-for woman, Carmen (Paz Vega). It is told in flashback as the young soldier, stripped of his decorations, explains all in a prison cell. He ... Read allBased on the novel by Prosper Merimee, CARMEN is the classic tale of forbidden passion between a young man (Leonardo Sbaraglia) and a spoken-for woman, Carmen (Paz Vega). It is told in flashback as the young soldier, stripped of his decorations, explains all in a prison cell. He tells of the love he had for Carmen and how it proved to be destructive.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Vicente Aranda
  • Writers
    • Vicente Aranda
    • Joaquim Jordà
    • Prosper Mérimée(novel)
  • Stars
    • Paz Vega
    • Leonardo Sbaraglia
    • Antonio Dechent
Top credits
  • Director
    • Vicente Aranda
  • Writers
    • Vicente Aranda
    • Joaquim Jordà
    • Prosper Mérimée(novel)
  • Stars
    • Paz Vega
    • Leonardo Sbaraglia
    • Antonio Dechent
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 24User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 10 nominations

    Photos

    Jay Benedict and Cherie Lunghi at an event for Carmen (2003)
    Jay Benedict, Cherie Lunghi, and Paz Vega at an event for Carmen (2003)
    Carmen (2003)
    Carmen (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paz Vega
    Paz Vega
    • Carmenas Carmen
    Leonardo Sbaraglia
    Leonardo Sbaraglia
    • Joséas José
    Antonio Dechent
    Antonio Dechent
    • Tuertoas Tuerto
    Joan Crosas
    • Dancaireas Dancaire
    Jay Benedict
    Jay Benedict
    • Prósperoas Próspero
    Joe Mackay
    • Tenienteas Teniente
    Josep Linuesa
    Josep Linuesa
    • Lucasas Lucas
    Julio Vélez
    • Señoritoas Señorito
    Emilio Linder
    • Aristótelesas Aristóteles
    Miguel Ángel Valcárcel
    • Juaneleas Juanele
    Simon Shepherd
    Simon Shepherd
    • Magistradoas Magistrado
    Ismael Martínez
    Ismael Martínez
    • Antonioas Antonio
    Ginés García Millán
    Ginés García Millán
    • Tempranilloas Tempranillo
    Susi Sánchez
    Susi Sánchez
    • Blancaas Blanca
    María Botto
    María Botto
    • Fernandaas Fernanda
    Paula Echevarría
    Paula Echevarría
    • Marisolas Marisol
    Sonia Madrid
    • Encargadaas Encargada
    Mariví Bilbao
    • Viejaas Vieja
    • Director
      • Vicente Aranda
    • Writers
      • Vicente Aranda
      • Joaquim Jordà
      • Prosper Mérimée(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Movie adapted from Prosper Merimee's 1847 novella, not Bizet's 1875 opera adaptation.
    • Connections
      Version of Carmen o la hija del contrabandista (1911)

    User reviews24

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Where's the va-va-voom?
    Screen-wise, the story of 'Carmen' has lent itself to more than two dozen outings: the plot, with its core elements of jealous lovers, femme fatales and outlaws, being powerful (indeed, simplistic) enough to embrace several contemporary stylings, such as 1954's all-black Carmen Jones, 2001's 'Carmen: A Hip Hopera', and Jean-Luc Godard's 1983 film First Name: Carmen.

    Similarly, while it's a popular misconception that 'Carmen' first flowed from composer Bizet's pen, the crowd-pleasing opera is just one of numerous interpretations, including dance and theatre productions, of Prosper Mérimée's 1847 source text.

    Though a crowd-pleaser now, and a terrific enlivener of many a 'Classical Lite' compilation CD, opera-goers attending the 1875 premiere performance actually thought it less than the Bizet's knees, owing to its interminable chunks of dialogue, later expunged or set to music. It's those glorious songs we most associate Carmen with these days: and, tellingly, this version - a straight, self-important retelling of the novella - feels infinitely poorer for their exclusion.

    As if anticipating the loss, director Aranda attempts to hold the interest during almost two hours of screen time, through full-frontal nudity, judicious smatterings of gore, and authentically course dialogue.

    It's in this attention to earthy period detail that the filmmakers have really succeeded: the costumes, lighting and production design are uniformly excellent. For such a purist take, however, occasional liberties have been taken - some good, some indifferent. In a canny nod to the political climate of the age, the French soldier José has become Basque, although the use of flashbacks and the inclusion of Mérimée as a character in his own story doesn't add a great deal.

    Most damagingly, the marked lack of eroticism, or sexual chemistry between Vega and Sbaraglia, is frankly baffling, while hysterical, near-burlesque turns are the order of the day. As the titular seductress, Vega resembles nothing as much as a nose-powdered catwalk model flouncing about with a broken heel.
    helpful•8
    4
    • Ali_John_Catterall
    • Nov 5, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 3, 2003 (Spain)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Italy
    • Languages
      • Spanish
      • Basque
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Кармен
    • Filming locations
      • Carmona, Sevilla, Andalucia, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Star Line TV Productions S.L.
      • TeleMadrid
      • Alythia Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,132,397
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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