Callas Forever [DVD]

"If only . . ." The film is permeated with this feeling of frustration and regret. If only Callas had been properly filmed in performance instead of leaving behind one creaky black-and-white version of part of "Tosca"! If only her voice had lasted a few more years! If only her friends could have done more to pull her out of her shell at the end! Never one for understatement, Franco Zeffirelli gives lavish expression to his deep sense of loss by fantasizing on what might have been. Does he succeed in conveying to younger generations what the world has lost? Or is his creation both too stagey and too personal? It worked for me, but probably not for anyone insisting on factual accuracy.

This is one of those movies you just have to feel connected to automatically. Personally, it is an energetic and thrilling insight into a deeply sensitive musical talent and the story behind her struggles of singing again. Jeremy Irons is brilliant! It's a wonderful movie for people who do not need to watch main stream less intellectual high budget crap, but enjoy the more independent type films. I'd recommend it, but like I said, you might not be into this unique genre of film.

The complex character of Maria Callas is a huge undertaking. Zeffirelli captures her brilliance and her personal demons and torments in his script. Fanny Ardent is absolutely brilliant. The sets and costumes typical for a Zeffirelli project. Exquisite. The music composed for the movie (most notably Callas Forever) is beautiful. Of course, the score to Bizet's Carmen has always been extraordinary. My advice, just allow Maria to blossom before you as you watch this movie.

Fanny Ardant is a truly an amazing actress. She totally captures Callas but the film's story line is total fiction. British actor Jeremy Irons is dreadful as a film director role modeled after real-life film director Franco Zeffirelli. I was hoping for a factual, straight forward bio pic.

While we have heard of Maria Callas as an opera singer and lover of Onassis, this movie offers insight into her life and personality. Director Franco Zeffirelli was a personal friend of Callas and brings her back in a story in which he imagines a different end for her. What if he were to enable Callas to have a successful comeback after her voice was gone? How could that happen?Jeremy Irons plays a manager who dreams of using technology to marry Callas' early recordings with a movie of her performing the role. Callas agrees to play the role of Carmen, one of which she has sung but incredibly never played on stage. Zeffirelli's fantasy of what that would be like, and look like, and what it would do for Callas is a diverting exercise. As Callas, Fanny Ardant plays the ultimate diva in all of her tempestuousness and talent. Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel costumed her. For opera lovers and Callas' fans, you will wish this actually could have transpired. Perhaps it would have saved the diva, and prevented her early death in her 50's?Watching this film will make you feel wistful that such talent came to an early end. Think of the students she could have taught or inspired, the opera companies she may have run or the operas she may have directed. This film may motivate you to want to hear more of her recordings or read a biography about her. This film educated me more than entertained me. That Zeffirelli wanted to do this film tells us that Callas was a compelling character in his life. I was fascinated by her in watching this film.

The writer knew Callas personally, and wrote this fiction about the last year of her life, when she had lost her ability to sing. It is definitely written with love, and is a "what if Maria Callas had decided to make a come-back using modern technology to dub her voice?"If you like opera arias, by a diva in her prime, you will love this film.

Callas Forever is one of the few videos I have purchased. I have watched it multiple times, sharing it with many people who have all been emotionally pulled into it...from opera singers to people who know nothing about opera. As a result there are several new people interested in exploring opera! It is a masterwork of the highest caliber. A classic for sure!

Je suis très satisfait de mon achat…!J’ai grandement apprécié qu’on imprime mes instructions de livraison et collées sur le carton d’emballage..!Une attention très appréciée….Un magnifique film et de superbes interprétations….!Merci…!

Lo cercavo da tempo: bellissimo film

A very imaginative treatment by the director Franco Zeffirelli of what could have been done with the recording Maria Callas made, towards the end of her career of Bizet's Carmen, and unlikely to return to the operatic stage. The actress playing Callas in the movie was quite remarkable.

je l'ai acheté suite à une demande d'une personne proche et j'ai enchanté cette personne je l'ai reçu dans un délai très court et je recommanderai des livres ou des cd sur amazon

I have this film on DVD but bought it on Blu-ray in October 2010 through Amazon as an import from the USA. On playing, it produced a screen which said that the disc was Region A only and could only be played on a Region A player. I ejected the disc, put it on a shelf, thinking that one day I may be able to see it in HD and DTS HD Master audio. This morning for some reason I thought that I would try again and see if I could bypass the warning screen. I pressed the 'Top Menu' button on the remote control and went straight to the main menu with everything working perfectly! I love this film, and I can now see and hear it in all it's glory.