Rigoletto

Stumbling upon this film by accident - looking in Radio Times and seeing a production of Rigoletto, I expected something different - I must admit to being titillated by some of the nudity and ravished by some of the colour. The sets are excellent (a strange but effective cross between 60s and retro modern), and many of the camera angles are brilliantly chosen. The cast look good too (although the foolish thought did occur to me that if you are casting a famously virile lover for a full frontal nude role you might inquire as to the size of his membrum virile). And of course, sublime music. The problem, though, is that there clearly weren't enough good opera singers prepared to cavort in some cold corner of the Netherlands with no clothes on. I know from experience that miming opera when you can see close-ups is a very difficult task, and the performers in Rigoletto make a generally very disappointing attempt at it. There is also at least one absolutely risible piece of nudity, which strangely ruins the effect of the justifiable sexuality and nudity in the rest of the piece. Worth seeing, though, for an interesting visual take on a magnificent work.