Film: U-Carmen

Playing at the Film Forum
through April 10th, 2007

“Carmen, perhaps the world’s best-loved opera, with its story of love, jealousy, revenge and madness, is set in a sprawling South African shantytown, and sung in Xhosa! George Bizet’s 19th century spectacle is re-imagined in a naturalistic world of pool halls, bars, courtyards and barracks. The seductive, boisterous Carmen (who works in a cigarette factory), is sung with tremendous charisma by Pauline Malefane. When she sets her sights on a Bible-reading policeman, he doesn’t stand a chance. Rarely has an opera been made more modern, relevant or vibrant than in this stunning interpretation, featuring Dimpho Di Kopane(DDK), the internationally acclaimed South African theater company.”