Farinelli : This was…different

I normally like foreign films (I'm from America), but this oneI don't know. It just seemed a little weird. Granted, we don't go around castrating little boys to keep their soprano voices anymore(if we did, they'd get beat up!), but it was just weird to see a man singing soprano, and to see the "tag-team sex" performed by the two brothers, as my roommates called it. Artistically, it was well done, but I don't think this movie was really my type. Watch it, though. You might like it.

http://www.cix.co.uk/~velluti/cast.htm - the Castrati.

Possibily, if you find castrati so unpleasantly "weird," you might consider that before watching a film that's named after a famous castrato. I mean, it's not like the subject matter snuck up on you, it's got "Farinelli" written in large letters across the front, and everything

I hate it when people say "foreign film." Is anything outside the United States considered foreign? Is there no difference between French, German, Italian or Israeli films? I find your remark condescending. It is Europe that good films are made. The United State's answer to that is Jeniffer Aniston.

As to not liking the movie, well you are entitled to your opinion, obviously. Myself, I disagree with it. Your reasons smell vaguely homophobic.

"Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view" Obi-Wan Kenobi

I don't really think there is an issue with the term 'foreign film' because anything that comes from outside your country and culture is foreign.

No one is saying that here is no difference between say, Run Lola Run and Amelie, they are extremely different films.. but what they have in common is that they are both foreign to someone from the US.

I think it's weird that you think the biggest issue between two BROTHERS having sex with the same woman at the same time is that they are both men. That sounds homophobic to me. It's creepy because it's incestuous, not because they are dudes.

While I was in France, I found just the same amount of tripe available to the average movie viewer. There was a film at the same time as "Farinelli" called "La Fille de D'Artagnan" which sounded interesting, so I saw it. It was horrible! Poor sets, costumes, action sequences.and of course there was just the barest amount of story to hold it all together. It was just like seeing any old American made-for-TV movie.

My point is simply, those "foreign films" that filter into the USA tend to be the cream of the crop. More cruddy American films are exported.

You're right, La fille de D'Artagnan is a very bad movie (compared to other European movies). But the amount of really good movies (what US movie induistry would vaguely call "independent") is much higher in France than everywhere else.

Most french movies aren't like La fille de D'Artagnan. Movies like that are a concession to the kind of viewers that are, sadly, meanwhile used to US blockbusters, and wouldn't watch an intelligent movie.

Too bad we in Germany have only a few movie makers, as Fatih Akin, who put the same quality in a movie as the french directors do

On that "foreign" discussion.
It's not really sensible or reasonable to use the word "foreign" on an international website which is used from those "foreigners", too.

*** Feeding the trolls will keep them alive. ***

lol@having a problem with the words "foreign film".

some people need help

I utterly agreeI suppose if you are American-born then anything outside of the USA is immediately going to be foreign, thats the case with all major nations. But America seems incapable of producing decent cinemaits because of America and its inflated influence that cinema is the stuck-up, vindictive, merciless, celebrity-obsessed, boring little bubble-world that it is today! I haven't seen much world cinema, I have to say, but British films like 'Topsy Turvy' and 'Withnail & I' inspire some hope in me, and I love filmmakers such as the Swedish Ingmar Bergman, the French Max Ophuls, Jean Cocteau and Sylvain Chomet. European cinema ROCKS!

Gypsy Girl, oh twisty pearl
Sat upon the stoney pale mare
Beltane Eve, by the fires you grieve
With your deep Babylonian hair

You may wanna rephrase thatunless there's a second moviemaker called Max Ophls that I'm not aware of, the Max Ophls I know (http://www.imdb.com/board/20649097/ ) is from Germany. True he immigrated to France later on, but who didn't in those times. That's like saying Thomas Mann is American because he immigrated to America ;-)

Apart from that I fullheartedly agree with everything you said :D


I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.

Well, as far as I know, no one castrates humans any longer. Farinelli is one of my favorite films of all time. I saw it the week that it came out in Paris, mostly because the movie posters just intrigued me. I came out of the theatre with my head ringing from the music, unusual and haunting. I went on to read the companion book put out by the film maker which went a little more in depth into some of the issues that I felt were not adequately explained in the film.

My take on the sex scenes is that Riccardo, who ostensibly has been "protecting" and "caring" for his brother, also "protects" him from the hordes of women who want to use him. It's well known that to sleep with Carlo, they must take the chance of sleeping with Riccardo. It's no longer the "safe" act. Obviously, Riccardo has his own reasons for enjoying this part of his promise to his father, but Carlo also controls Riccardo but in a far more subtle way.

The only thing that really disappoints me is that I can't see it again on the big screen.

Hahacome on now, what do you expect from the effeminate Europeans? Eh? Those effete snobs castrated on the international arena since the World War 2? Do you actually expect them to make anything morally straight, and inspiring, other than the pathetic life of a castrated loser?

Handel despised the castrato brothers, and I think he should. He is among the greatest genius in the history of music, and deserves to look down upon bugs like Farinelli. Bugs are meant to be crushed.

What do you all know the difference between the gods and the mortals?

I agree wholeheartedly with you about Handel's genius, though for my taste I prefer Beethoven. That said, the young boys who were castrated certainly should not be blamedthey had no choice in the matter, so how could they be losers? Now back to Handel, he was gay, so most likely an effeminate European himself.

"Anyone who tells a lie has not a pure heart, and cannot make a good soup." Ludwig Van Beethoven

Hahayes, certainly, certainlyI'm definitely not blaming the boys. I'm blaming the director for making a pointless movie about these unfortunate people. What's the point of the story again?

The film was not pointless, it was an unfortunate and cruel part of history. Certainly there are scores of films that point out the error of our ways, down through the ages. Art has always been a vehicle for societal change and awareness. The castrato's made wonderful music, that cannot be denied, and Farinelli was a superb musician. Unless you are are real opera lover, probably like you and me, most people were not aware of this obscene practicenow they know. Those that did not know, were probably lured into watching the film because of its oddity and sexualitymaybe they caught the opera bug because of the film. Now, that's always a good thing. Even if it won't lower the price of tickets at The Met!!! :(

"Anyone who tells a lie has not a pure heart, and cannot make a good soup." Ludwig Van Beethoven

Agreed. Except if you look at the literature, this movie focuses way too much on the prurient aspects of the Brothers' lives, and didn't give enough attention to their artistic lives. Now that I come to think about it, there's something circular here toomaybe the director's problem is not so much about portraying losers, but rather he had made two losers out of the characters and expect us to empathize with 'em.

P.S. Herein we also see the absurdity of European sensation, such as the fixation over castrated sex.

Sadly, sex sells. That was probably true in the 17th and 18th centuries as well. When I tell non-enthusiasts the plots of the most famous operas they are aghast. I guess they think sex only just occurred to humans, circa 1968! I agree with you as wellI definitely would have liked less sex, and more about their artistic lives. Maybe one day someone will do a doc about themI don't believe one has been donecould be wrong though. Maybe Farinelli had the last laugh, medically speakingI'm a nurse and gallows humor is a requirement of the job. He did live I believe to about 75 years of agemaybe the lack of all those raging hormones was partially responsible! 75 is about our life expectancy now. Hope you realize, I'm kidding! It was nice speaking with younice to meet someone who appreciates good music. See ya at The Metthe cheaper seats anyway.

"Anyone who tells a lie has not a pure heart, and cannot make a good soup." Ludwig Van Beethoven

I'm not quite sure if anyone today REALLY realizes just how important and influential Farinelli was. He was, and could still be considered, the greatest singer of all time. He had a range spanning three and a half octaves, could hold one note for six minutes and hit 250 different notes in one breath. If the shear amazement of those facts doesn't garner support and interest in his importance, I fear that you might only belive in what you see in the film. As was mentioned, Farinelli was a modest person, charitable, and had virtually no enemies. This film makes him out to be a free wheeling playboy locked in a deep-seeded rivalry with George Fredric Handel. It just isn't true. However, this film is captivating and, if nothing else, has the ability to make the public interested and aware of this great performer.

Where did you get that info from, Chico?

I cut my finger. That's tragedy. A man walks into an open sewer and dies. That's comedy.

Dude, Handel was not gay. The story that Handel was gay was created by people who wanted to ruin him. How many times do I have to say this to people?

And effeminate Europeans? People, get a life. God, why are there so many stupid, prejudice people?


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Why is Farinelli not angry with his brother for castrating him?
Why is the movie so impregnated with lurid raunch?


I'm not sure if its art, but I like it!

He loved his brother and he would not have had the success he had without the castration.and lurid raunch, as you call it (I disagree) is just a fact of life. The castrati were the Rock Stars of their day, and yet they all suffered greatly at the hands of the Church and also by the prejudices of people. It was an accepted practice in a bygone Era. I think the film is beyond amazing. Try Corbiau's next film LE ROI DANSE. That'll get your goat!1640's "lurid raunch."

Ah, the stupidity of some people herecalling Farinelli "a loser", hahahaha.

That's what happen when some hillbillie try to comment on movies/art.

There are contra tenors today, but I'm not sure exactly how they manage to sing this way. I heard one recently on the classical music station KDFC. They are not castrated, but I really wonder how a man can maintain the sound -years of practice?

Back then, they called them castrati because they thought clipping their testicles gave them the higher voice. It's a shame they were born in the wrong time. If they lived in modern times, they could've just studied country yodellers, Eddie Kendricks, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson, Prince, and a multitude of doo-wop groups. Lol