Farinelli (1994)

Gerard Corbiau's Farinelli is a clumsy movie with good music. Farinelli is an opera star during the 18th century and his brother writes grandiose music for him. They share everything, even their dates. When he performs in concerts, women faint and everybody are amazed by his high-pitched voice. Farinelli is a castrato and it is this aspect that is the foreground of the film. The film's preoccupation with male organs is both tedious and pompous, and the only thing I got out of this film is some director's mouldy ideas about masculinity. On the other hand, it is fun to watch Farinelli's over-the-top presence, his mannerisms and how he created a new idea about the performer. The biggest problem with Farinelli is that it is not going anywhere. It's a messy film with lots of threads and themes, and plenty of uneven acting to boot.