Aria (Special Edition) DVD

This ambitious and enthralling film was the pet project of producer Don Boyd, a portmanteau collection of ten arias, directed by ten world cinema directors. Filmmakers as diverse as Jean Luc Godard, Robert Altman, Ken Russell and Derek Jarman re-imagine works by Verdi, Puccini and many others, often to entrancing effect.

Although none of the directors simply film the operas ‘straight’, some stick closer to the originals than others. Bruce Beresford’s adaptation of the love aria from Die Tote Stadt keeps to the setting of Bruges, as a young virgin (a beautiful Elizabeth Hurley in her film debut) is stripped and seduced by her lover. Sex and sexuality play a major part in many of the arias - Julien Temple transforms Verdi’s Rigoletto into a bawdy sex farce starring Buck Henry and Beverly D’Angelo, while in the most moving vignette two young lovers make passionate love before committing double suicide in Franc Roddam’s stunning take on Wagner’s Liebestod.

Yet it is the veteran directors who provide the most inspired contributions. Theresa Russell cross-dresses as a doomed King in a gender-bending dreamy visualisation of Un ballo in maschera, courtesy of Nicolas Roeg, while Robert Altman takes a brave (ands successful) risk by filming an audience at a Parisian opening night. Best of all is Godard’s erotic and fetishistic rendition of Lully’s Arminde, complete with naked, potentially murderous nymphs and oblivious bodybuilders, a postmodern delight. Derek Jarman’s intensely personal adaptation of Gustave Charpentier’s Louise uses Super 8 footage of Tilda Swinton to poignant effect as an ageing opera singer completes her swan song, while a typically extreme short from Ken Russell stars porn actress Linzi Drew in a bizarre and pervy take on Nessun Dorma, with a nasty twist in its tale.

This is creative filmmaking on a scale we are unlikely to witness again, as arts funding continues to be slashed. It’s our loss, as Aria marks the perfect fusion of two art forms without compromising either medium. Although knowledge of the arias is by no means essential to appreciating the ten visions, Don Boyd’s informative commentary offers invaluable insight, contextualising and critiquing the director’s choices.

Alex Davidson on 29th May 2009
Author of 232 reviews