THE MUSIC OF SILENCE

Italy, 2017, 115 minutes, Colour.

Toby Sebastian, Jordi Molla, Antonio Banderas, Luisa Ranieri, Ennio Fantaschini.

Directed by Michael Radford.

This Italian production, spoken in English, is based on the autobiography of the same name by renowned singer, Andrea Bocelli. At the beginning, he talks about the choice of a name, Amos Accardi, and this biography runs with this family name and a focus on Amos.

Bocelli himself appears at the beginning of the film, black-and-white footage, and, at the end of the film, further footage of himself, his wife, performances – and a collage of photos and footage of his meeting with world celebrities including Queen Elizabeth, Bill Clinton and, three popes.

While the film is straightforward, conventional, in its storytelling of the life of Amos/Andrea, it has a great appeal to many audiences, the story of a family, the story of a child and the discovery of disabilities with eyesight, blindness, the burdens on the child as he grows up, possibilities for his life.

The film has the advantage of Jordi Molla as the father, Toby Sebastien as the older Amos, and a very sympathetic, not immediately recognisable with his beard, Antonio Banderas as the maestro who is able to train Amos’s voice and preparing for a career.

The film was directed by Michael Radford, British Dir with a range of credits, very different from each other, including 1984, White Mischief, you’ll Pristine oh, The Merchant of Venice, Elsa and Fred.

The film recreates the atmosphere of Italy in the 1960s to the 1990s. And, it traces the love of music and the young Amos, as a little child attracted by music, singing at school, winning competitions, the dilemma of what he could do with his life, legal studies, playing piano in a bar with his friend, composing… But the mood changes with his time with the Maestro, but also the disappointments of not being able to rule with the star, To grow, agents ignoring him. However, he does get his final chance, always with the strong support of his uncle, his relationship with Enrica who was to be his first wife, then his career.

And, for audiences who like to listen to Andrea Bocelli, many musical pieces throughout the film.

1. Audience knowledge of Andre Bocelli, his singing career, his blindness, the triumph of singing over the limits of blindness?
2. Audience knowledge of Bocelli’s background, Amos Bacardi, his family, loving parents, the difficulties with his eyes, as a boy, coping with difficulties, music, going to board, the effect, his singing talent? His teenage years, legal studies, singing in the cafe? Encouragement in music? The May/, the lessons, over many years, loss of opportunities, opportunities? Final success?
3. The film based on Andre Bocelli is autobiography? His appearances, singing? His career framing the narrative? The collage of photos, of celebrities, Queen Elizabeth, Bill Clinton, three popes…?
4. The conventional way of telling a life story, the background, the family, difficulties, early years, challenges, growing up, hard life, opportunities, losses?
5. The portrait of Amos’s parents, the hard work, the family, the eagerness with Amos’s birth, attending him, the discovery of his eyesight and difficulties, coping at home, the younger brother? The other members of the family? The uncle and aunt and their presence? The parents over the years, love for their son, difficulties, his going to board, coming home, the teenage years and trying to influence him, the influence to do legal studies, standing by him in singing competitions, and their joy in his winning, at the cafe, sharing in the final triumph?
6. The little boy, listening to the music through the wall, talking with the blind musician? Later singing, at school, playing sport and the hit on the head with the ball and its consequences, the encouragement of the musician teacher, the competition, the other candidates, his performance, the final, the professor judging, his winning?
7. Disappointment that this did not lead to a singing career, explanations of blindness preventing him from performing on stage, in Opera, seeing the conductor…?
8. The bond with his friend, their meeting, time together, mutual support? Musicians, playing together, composition? The various performances in the cafe, the performance of the wedding? The singing at the wedding when his voice broke and the effect on him? Playing in the cafe, night after night, the audience, the wedding and singing, Enrica, her background, studies, attached to Andre, the bond and relationship? (In real life, the marriage, child, the separation after 10 years?)
9. The uncle, his continued concern, love for his nephew, finding opportunities, the singing competition, winning, joy? Family celebrations? Arranging the audition with the music critic who& Andre and uncle throwing wine in his face, denouncing him? Following Andre career, the cafe?
10. The May/, meeting with Andre, the discussions, the lessons, the details, fine tuning his voice? Choices for Andrea? The super of and the possibility of touring, Pavarotti? The agents, Cavalier attitudes? Andrea waiting for a long time?
11. The eventual phone call, the invitation to travel, to sing, the concert in the partnership with Socorro? The beginning of the beginning?
12. Subsequent career, Opera, concerts throughout the world, his reputation, his second marriage, Veronica as his manager, record-breaking performances, record-breaking with records sold, meeting celebrities? And his life and career continuing?