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

Colour:

Colour

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 Die Zauberflöte (1991/I) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Magic Flute

Splendid

The most wonderful movie I've experienced in the past year. I was enthralled by the translation of the German lyrics into vernacular English; the Italians for once did not dub it away, but just provided Italian subtitles: Bravo! I was in awe of Mr. Fry's — I believe — ability to preserve the poetry while translating the language, and making it still fit the music. This opera is my very favorite and I loved the singing. The idea of setting the opera in a 20th century war scene gave the libretto story credibility and passion, something most opera lacks, except as the music imparts. I salute Mr. Branagh's genius. As usual in such musical movies it isn't clear who actually did the signing, but whoever did, did a wonderful job; the passages by The Queen of the Night gave me the usual chills up and down my spine, and Mozart is irrepressible! I have long savored Bergman's Magic Flute, and I do think Branagh's has earned at least an equal berth.