Georges Bizet's Carmen first premièred in Paris on 3 March 1875 and has reputedly since become the most performed opera in the world. Originally based on Prosper Merimee's novella and adapted into a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy, Carmen was set in a slum area of Seville and tells a visceral tale of love, jealousy, revenge, desire and madness. Carmen deals with the bleaker side of human nature, all the while celebrating its invincible spirit. It is this thrilling combination, along with its extraordinary music that has generated its timeless appeal.
Its characters are complex: Carmen is far more than the stereotypical femme fatale - she is a sensual independent woman whose fierce determination and indomitable spirit, even in the face of death, make her a compelling figure and an icon in the popular imagination.
The narrative traces the destruction of a woman who cannot and will not become what men want her to be and culminates in one of the most gripping and tragic finales of all time.
Special Agent Matti
*
M 15+ (Infrequent moderate violence)
120 minutes (2:00 hours)
Film: 7 September 2006
