The Magic Flute (1975)

 ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

The Magic Flute (1975) – I. Bergman

Returning to my Bergman Blu-Ray Boxset (thanks, Mom & John!) – I’m up to Disc 20 (out of 30).  This one feels a bit atypical – a version of Mozart’s opera seemingly filmed onstage and in front of an audience (but actually directly for the cameras on a soundstage). The overture shows close-ups of people awaiting the start of the performance, people from a large age range and from multiple ethnic backgrounds. We will return to one young girl’s reactions throughout the film. Once the opera starts (and it is close to 100% sung – although I did not recognise any familiar melodies – probably my lack of exposure to opera as a whole), we are often across the proscenium arch and up close with the characters.  The plot involves a prince, Tamino, who has been asked by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Pamina from the sorcerer Sarastro.  He has a magic flute to help him.  A puckish bird-catcher Papageno helps him (with the assistance of some magic bells). It turns out that Sarastro may not be all that he seems. Tamino and Papageno have to undergo some trials leading to Enlightenment in order to win the hands of Pamina and another maiden, Papagena.  Bergman’s staging is cozy and cute, designed for a small provincial stage rather than a grand Opera House. We are treated to several scenes of the performers backstage or offstage. I tried to relate this back to Bergman’s larger themes (across his oeuvre) – thinking about performance vs. reality or love as the reason for existence in the face of an absent or non-existent god – but I might need help making some connections.  In fact, Bergman may have simply wanted to present a version of one of his favourite works.