Aria (1987)
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50% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
42% of users liked it
(2,211 ratings)
An international collection of well-known directors contributed to this compilation film, each fashioning a short film inspired by an aria from a famous opera. The approaches vary broadly, from the playful abstraction of Jean-Luc Godard's segment, which illustrates Armide with exercising… More An international collection of well-known directors contributed to this compilation film, each fashioning a short film inspired by an aria from a famous opera. The approaches vary broadly, from the playful abstraction of Jean-Luc Godard's segment, which illustrates Armide with exercising body-builders, to the more literal approach of Franc Roddam, who transports Tristan und Isolde's story to modern-day Las Vegas. A particular stand-out is Julian Temple's take on Rigoletto, which recasts Verdi as the accompaniment to a contemporary Southern California sex farce. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Directed By
- Bill Bryden, Bruce Beresford
- Genres
- Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Art House & International, Comedy, Special Interest
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1988 Wide
- Studio
- Academy Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
The best of the 10 segments is, perhaps predictably, the rare one without lofty pretensions.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
I am not sure that any indispensable statement about opera has been made here, and purists will no doubt recoil by the irreverence of some of the images. But the film is fun almost as a satire of itself.
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Aria gives 10 filmmakers a chance to create vignettes set to well-known opera arias.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Uneven compendium film. Russell, Temple, and Roddam are the best things. Goddard is the worst.
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James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
pretentious piffle that's pretty much one sour note after another
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Theresa Russell
as King Zog
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Nicola Swain
as Marie
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Buck Henry
as Preston
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Jack Kyle
as Travis
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Marianne McLoughlin
as Kate
- Julie Hagerty
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Marion Peterson
as Les Jeunes Filles
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Tilda Swinton
as Young Girl
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John Hurt
as Garuso the Actor
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Valerie Allain
as Les Jeunes Filles
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Anita Morris
as Phoebe
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Beverly D'Angelo
as Gilda
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Gary Kasper
as Jake
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Elizabeth Hurley
as Marietta
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Peter Birch
as Paul
- Geneviève Page
- Cris Campion
- Sandrine Dumas
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Bridget Fonda
as Lover
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James Mathers
as The Lover
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Linzi Drew
as Girl
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Spencer Leigh
as Young Man
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Sophie Ward
as Young Girl
- Carlo Bergonzi
- Jussi Bjoerling
- Bertrand Bonvoisin
- Anne Canovas
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Arthur Cox
as Major
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Sevilia Delofski
as Maid
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John Doyle
as Blind Balloon Man
- Bella Enahoro
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Dan Fitzgerald
as Mercedes Man
- Reri Grist
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Dennis Holmes
as Colonel
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John Hostetter
as Elvis Impersonator
- Rene Kollo
- Alfredo Kraus
- Kwabena Manso
- Anna Moffo
- Carol Neblett
- Leontyne Price
- Louis-Marie Taillefer
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Dyanne Thorne
as Bride
- Shirley Verrett
- Andreas Wisniewski
- Robert Merrill
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Chris Hunter
as Assassin
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Paul Brightwell
as Assassin
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Quentin Brown
as Indian Boy
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Jeff Calhoun
as Dancer
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Paul Collard
as Valet
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Derek Farmer
as Motorbike Man
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Ruth Halliday
as Companion
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Roy Hyatt
as Chauffeur
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George Ellis Jones
as Chauffeur
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Howie Korn
as Groom
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Stephanie Lane
as Baroness
- Bunty Mathias
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Stan Mazin
as Dancer
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Lucy Oliver
as Woman in Background
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Michelle Read
as Nanny
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Maximillian Roeg
as Child
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Dominic Salinero
as Dancer
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Albie Selznick
as Bellboy
- Jennifer Smith
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Bertha Weiss
as Lady with Glove
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Gordon Winter
as Man in Background
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Derick Coleman
as Indian Boy
- Delphine Rich
- Ezio Flagello
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David Ross
as Doorman
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Frank Baker
as Assassin
- Sevilla Delofski
