A labour of love for producer Don Boyd, (best known for producing Scum (1979), The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980) and Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)), this was a mammoth project, which was huge in terms of ambition and even scale. Boyd got in 10 of the most visually brilliant directors working at the time (mid-1980's), and he asked each of them to take an operatic piece of their choosing, and using their imaginative genius. Create a film to go with the aria of that particular operatic piece. The resulting film was Aria (1987), an arts film, but a visually compelling piece. It's finally coming to DVD!!
The 10 directors each assigned to create a short film for this whole piece were Robert Altman, Derek Jarman, Jean-Luc Godard, Julien Temple, Charles Sturridge, Bruce Beresford, Bill Bryden, Franc Roddam with Nicolas Roeg and Ken Russell!!
These 10 directors brought their interpretations of operatic arias from composers such as Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, Ruggero Leoncavallo and Giacomo Puccini to life in their own unique ways. A good (mainly female) cast is spread across the 90 minute film, including Theresa Russell, Beverly D'Angelo, Liz Hurley, Bridget Fonda, Buck Henry, Julie Hagerty, Tilda Swinton and John Hurt!!
It's been unavailable for years, but it's coming to DVD for the first time in this country on June 15th!! The special features include...
'Composing Aria': Documentary featuring interviews with Producers and Directors
Commentary by Producer Don Boyd
Stills Gallery
Theatrical TrailerThis should make for a good blend for those who like arty cinema and classical music. With a brilliant selection of directors on this film, it should be irresistable. (Woody Allen and Federico Fellini were also asked to contribute a piece each, but couldn't make the schedule.) Nearly every director on board with this film has made films involving music, Altman did Nashville, Roeg did Performance, Julien Temple did The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, and Uncle Ken... well, we all know what he's done!!