BEL CANTO

US, 2018, 100 minutes, Colour.

Julianne Moore, Ken Watanabe, Sebastien Koch, Ryo Kase, Christopher Lambert.

Directed by Paul Weitz.

This is quite an unusual film, written and directed by Paul Weitz whose range of films includes American Pie and About a Boy.

The title indicates opera themes and, this is to the fore, an American diva, played by Julianne Moore, comes to a Latin American country to sing at a social for the elite. One of her greatest fan is a Japanese businessman played by Ken Watanabe. He arranges that he come to the concert on the pretext of offering an industrial plant to the President of the country though he has no intention of fulfilling the promise.

During the performance, rebels invade the mansion, wanting to take the President prisoner but he has not attended (staying home, in fact, to watch his favourite telenovella). The rebels make speeches about corruption in their city, are demanding the release of fellow prisoners, taking the guests at the party hostage.

Sebastien Koch appears as a Swiss mediator. And Christopher Lambert has a significant role as one of the hostages, provocative, but able to play the piano and accompany the singer when performance is demanded of her.

Women are released. The men have to stay. Time passes, the negotiator does his best, no co-operation from the government, soldiers outside the besieged building.

There is a planned that the Opera singer perform on a balcony, the people, for the media, a gesture for negotiations. In the meantime, the Japanese businessman becomes more involved with the singer. He has a translator who is attracted by a female rebel, teaching her to read and write, becoming emotionally involved.

There are suggestions of the Stockholm syndrome, the bonding in some ways between rebels and hostages, and a final football match.

There are some tension during the siege, the audience wondering what will happen, what could happen. Eventually, there is an attack on the mansion, the deaths of the rebels, the death of the businessman shielding the female rebel, the Opera singer returning to the US that to her career, with memories of this experience.

1. The title? Music? Opera? Song, divas? In the context of a Latin American uprising, siege, hostages?
2. The locations, the opening in Japan, business offices? Homes? The transition to Latin America, filming in Mexico, the city and the streets, the palatial house and interiors, the enclosed grounds, the background of the mountains?
3. The musical score, the Opera excerpts, Julianne Moore and the Opera singer’s voice?
4. The opening, the Japanese businessman listening to Roxanne singing, his love for the music, the travelling to Latin America, alleged opening a business, but not his intention, his deciding to go to listen to the singer? Welcomed, the reception, the guests, affluence, celebration, but the refusal of the president to go?
5. The businessman, the translator, the translator and his skills, moving comfortably with everyone? The interview with Roxanne? Her singing?
6. The invasion, the rebels, uniforms, masks, weapons? Taking control? Wanting the president? Motivations, the release of political prisoners, accusations of corruption?
7. The mayhem, the wounding of the host, the young rebel sewing his wound? Everybody on the floor, time passing, the businessman offering his coat to Roxanne as a pillow?
8. The extended siege, the personalities of the rebels, their backgrounds as teachers, their causes, commitment? Weapons?
9. The negotiator, from Switzerland, personality, skills, calm? Searched? Discussions? Negotiating the release of the women and the elderly? The musician, his need for tablets, his collapse, the decision to retain Roxanne, his being upset, going back, opening the door, the young rebel shooting him?
10. Outside, ambulances, the media? The reports on television? Local police, guards?
11. Roxanne being detained, seen as more valuable? The time passing, the various personalities, Simon, the farewell to his wife, the incident with the shaving and the loss of water, his ability to play the piano, accompanying? His excitement with the football?
12. The lack of water, attempted negotiations, the decision for Roxanne to sing, going up onto the balcony, Simon playing the piano, the effect? The water being turned back on? The delivery of the food? Roxanne being given a comfortable room, Carmen looking after her, the conversations?
13. Carmen, not able to read, talking to the interpreter, asking him to teach, the various meetings, the attraction, the night together?
14. The businessman, the attraction towards Roxanne, the mutual attraction, taking blame for being in Latin America, ultimately together, the interpreter arranging things, Carmen and her intervention?
15. Time passing, the Stockholm Syndrome, the bonding between captors and hostages? Especially playing football together? Symbolism of the soccer match? Their being allowed outside? The cause, to give up or not?
16. The rebel singing, his embarrassment at going off key, climbing the tree, people urging him down, Roxanne teaching him how to sing?
17. The invasion by the troops, the singer shot in front of Roxanne, the young man working in the garden, offered jobs by the hostages when they left, his death, the leaders? The businessman shielding Carmen and being killed?
18. The rescue, people led out, the effect of the experience?
19. A year later, Roxanne singing, the presence of the interpreter, her vision of the businessman?