The Magic Flute (2006)

During World War I, in an unnamed country, a soldier named Tamino is sent by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Pamina from the clutches of the supposedly evil Sarastro. But all is not as it seems.

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writers:

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

Stars:

Joseph Kaiser, Amy Carson, Ben Davis

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joseph Kaiser	...	Tamino
Amy Carson	...	Pamina
Ben Davis	...	Papageno (as Benjamin Jay Davis)
Silvia Moi	...	Papagena
René Pape	...	Sarastro
Lyubov Petrova	...	Queen of the Night
Tom Randle	...	Monostatos
Liz Smith	...	The Old Papagena
Teuta Koço	...	First Lady
Louise Callinan	...	Second Lady
Kim-Marie Woodhouse	...	Third Lady
William Dutton	...	First Boy
Luke Lampard	...	Second Boy
Jamie Manton	...	Third Boy
Rodney Clarke	...	First Officer

Storyline

During World War I, in an unnamed country, a soldier named Tamino is sent by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Pamina from the clutches of the supposedly evil Sarastro. But all is not as it seems.

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Plot Keywords:

evil | queen | walking wounded | based on opera | mozart | 

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 December 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

A Flauta Mágica

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Idéale Audience, Peter Moores Foundation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Kaiser reportedly lost thirty pounds between recording and shooting to fit the young romantic soldier look of Tamino.

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Quotes

Papageno: [Papageno and Tamino are undergoing a trial of silence, but Papageno speaks anyway, much to the displeasure of Tamino. An old woman enters] Is that for me?
Old Papagena: [speaks, carrying a tray of refreshments] Yes, my angel!
Papageno: [drinks and then speaks] Water! Ugh! How old are you, my dear?
Old Papagena: [speaks] I'm eighteen years and - two minutes.
Papageno: [bursts into laughter and speaks] I see! Do you have a boyfriend?
Old Papagena: [speaks] Oh, yes!
Papageno: [speaks] What's his name?
Old Papagena: [speaks] Papageno!
Papageno: [speaks as she starts to leave] Papa - Hey, that's me! ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The overture to the opera is played both at the beginning and the end, but only at the end is it played over the film's credits.

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Connections

Version of NBC Television Opera Theatre: The Magic Flute (1956)

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Soundtracks

Closing Credits Music: Overture to 'The Magic Flute'
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conducted by James Conlon

User Reviews

Superb - by fans for the fans

I think it's sad that this movie got such a low IMDb grade. I just wanted to say that this film is not for people who has an abc list of criteria each film has to fulfill to be a "good" film.

I do not watch much TV and film, and it's getting even less as I've started to work in the business myself.

This movie is for people like me, who've seen enough to see they need something different. AND it's for Magic Flute fans. I you don't like things being different or Mozart, you won't like this film either.

But IF you like Mozart and things that are different (call it "original" if you'd like). Then this is a MUST SEE. Branaugh has captured ALL the important details i this movie, and by IMPORTANT I don't mean whether the coloratura can hit the F sharp in a special way. I mean captured the true FEEL of the original play.

The libretto is silly and full of love, so is this movie. I've seen so many different versions of the opera, but only in this film have I seen truly fitting singers in the different roles. Most casts have a dull Tamino -> in this he's brilliant. Pamina is brilliant. Papageno is brilliant.

Mozart would be proud of himself and the performers and Branaugh if he'd watched it. Congratulations!