I have just watched this film for the second time after nearly twenty years and it surprised me. I did not find it so intense and dramatic as it seemed to me the first time I saw it. The arias are beautiful, although I am not an opera lover, and the photography is gorgeous.
The fault that I found with the film is its rather fast pace that conspires against the development of the characters and the whole drama. The young protegé of Dallayrac (Jose van Dam) goes through some very hard times and, all of the sudden, he is ready for the competition. It could, and would, have been better if the relationship master-pupil between Dallayrac and Jean had be given some more coverage since he (Jean) represents the greatest challenge for the aging master.
The final scene where the two tenors face each other in a grand finale is fairly predictable and takes away much of the dramatic climax.
Having said this, on a broader outlook it still remains a very nice and moving film, particularly when we put it against most of the films of the last twenty years, full of irrelevant stories, unnecessary bloodshed and foul language, with characters that do not show any redeeming qualities.
The fault that I found with the film is its rather fast pace that conspires against the development of the characters and the whole drama. The young protegé of Dallayrac (Jose van Dam) goes through some very hard times and, all of the sudden, he is ready for the competition. It could, and would, have been better if the relationship master-pupil between Dallayrac and Jean had be given some more coverage since he (Jean) represents the greatest challenge for the aging master.
The final scene where the two tenors face each other in a grand finale is fairly predictable and takes away much of the dramatic climax.
Having said this, on a broader outlook it still remains a very nice and moving film, particularly when we put it against most of the films of the last twenty years, full of irrelevant stories, unnecessary bloodshed and foul language, with characters that do not show any redeeming qualities.