I examined a film Farinelli (1994), directed by Gerard Corbiau, starring Stefano
Dionisi (as Farinelli), Enrico Lo Verso (as Riccardo Broschi), Elsa Zylberstein
(as Alexandra), and Jeroen Krabbe (George F. Handel). The scene I took a closer
look, is considered as the best scene of this film; that Farinelli sings
Handel’s aria Lascia ch'io pianga, which is
soprano aria included in opera Rinaldo.
This scene is well-made, in
terms of performing, directing, and editing. As the climax of this film, also
as a resolution part of the plot structure, the director had to release all tensions
that built by this point. Especially, emotional tensions and forces formed
between two main characters Farinelli and Ricardo. Director shows the important
characters reaction while Farinelli sings aria by cross cutting. And also,
includes scenes that contains a true story about Farinelli’s castration which
Farinelli doesn't know until this point in the film.
Ricardo manipulates
Farinelli’s talent for fortunes and women, however, he anxious about Farinelli
ditches him and knows the truth about his tragedy (Ricardo lied for long time
that Farinelli had to be castrated for surviving from fatal disease that he had
in youth), and also taken him by someone else. At this time, Handel, the
greatest composer in Baroque period, recognizes Farinelli’s talent and asks him
to perform for him and royals in Italy. Ricardo couldn’t get away from
Farinelli’s insisting on performing Handel’s piece. In this scene Farinelli
sings Handel’s Lascia ch'io pianga (let me weep) to large audiences, including
Ricardo, Alexandra (who truly loves Farinelli and steals Handel’s music pieces
for him), and Handel. This scene composed well because this scene reveals the
truth while Farinelli performs, Ricardo put Farinelli into the bath that filled
with opium water that soothes the pain coming from castration, and the past
memory of castration put between present scene (the Farinelli’s performance).
Which reinforces increasing emotional tensions for both audiences of this film
and the audiences in the story. The music is a diegetic sound. As the aria ends
the audiences in the film standing up to praise and cheer, Farinelli seems
happy and also very sad, because he, now, knows about the truth.
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