Parsifal (1982 film)

Parsifal is a 1982 West GermanFrench opera film directed by HansJrgen Syberberg, based on the opera of the same name by Richard Wagner. It was shown out of competition at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival.

Prior to making Parsifal, HansJrgen Syberberg had made three films which bring up the subject of Richard Wagner Ludwig Requiem for a Virgin King from 1972, The Confessions of Winifred Wagner from 1975 and Hitler A Film from Germany from 1977. The Confessions of Winifred Wagner had upset the descendants of Wagner, which had the effect that Syberberg was not allowed to use any existing recording of the opera for the soundtrack of Parsifal. A production was instead arranged specifically for the film, with Armin Jordan as conductor. The film was shot entirely in studio indays, in Bavaria Atelier in Munich. The budget was just above three million Deutsche Mark.The New York Times John Rockwell wrote Hans Jurgen Syberbergs film version of Richard Wagners music drama, Parsifal, should enthrall both film lovers and Wagner fans. Mr. Syberbergs work represents not only the summation of his career thus far, but is as gripping, strange and, in the end, devotionally faithful a staging as any Wagner opera has received in our time. Rockwell continued Just why Mr. Syberbergs scenic innovations dont seem as disturbing as other modern directorial innovations Patrice Chreaus Bayreuth Ring, for instance is hard to explain. ... Instead of their shocking us away from the romantic spell of the music, they reinforce that spell. Its as if Wagners hypnotic allure and Brechts intellectualized alienation have been somehow mystically united. Graham Bradshaw wrote in London Review of Books Using clever front projection techniques, Syberberg provides a rapid background commentary on the main dramatic action this is sometimes contrived and disruptive, but more frequently suggests the reflexes and ricochets of a mind that is actively engaging with Parsifal. ........

Source: Wikipedia