The Magic Flute has adventure, romance, singing, secrets, music that fills a soundscape of your mind, all woven into Mozart’s magical opera! The director and co-writer is Florian Sigl, his first film. Andrew Lowery co-wrote the comedy, Nothing (2003), as part of the writing duo, The Drews. Jason Young, director and writer of the short, With All My Love (2013). The film is based on the Mozart opera that had premiered in 1791. Ingmar Bergman directed a 1975 adaptation. There was a 2006 version directed by Kenneth Branagh. The Magic Flute is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime and also Blu Ray and DVD. It begins with an orchestra warm-up, probably one of the best parts of a live performance, gets the tension going.
The score kicks in briefly as we see a quiet, London hospital with a window overlooking the city. A nurse calls over a young man, Tim Walker (Jack Wolfe), to see his father, James (Greg Wise). Wolfe stars as Wylan Hendricks in the fantasy series, Shadow and Bone. The prince in the opera is named Tamino. Wise is in the drama, After Louise (2019). His father, resting in a hospital bed, has written a letter to a school’s headmaster, Dr. Longbow. Tim wants to stay to look after his mother. James says he had talked with his wife and makes his son promise to go to his dream school when he passes away! Next, his father wants him to take out a gift, a book, Die Zauberflöte. The Magic Flute in German. The book also reminds me of the Neverending Story (1984), the original novel was also in German.
James says it was his time at the school, Mozart’s, and Tim realizes that he stole it. He says Tim has to return it “back where it belongs.” The nurse interrupts them to give James his time to rest. He grasps his son’s hand and says his life will be changed. Six weeks later, a night train ride, this is no Harry Potter, the beginning is very somber. Tim pages through the book, seeing drawings and some of the score. He looks up, sees a pretty girl (Niamh McCormack) with headphones, and they smile. McCormack has a cameo in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Later, she has a number where she can sweetly sing.
They find a private car and she introduces herself as Sophie. She recognizes that he is going to Mozart’s and Sophie is in the girl’s building there. Tim says he plays the piano and sings. He sits next to her and Sophie says she is listening to Jackson Five’s “I’ll Be There” which they listen to on their headphones. The train heads towards the Austrian Alps. Tim wakes up from the train alarm, alone in the car, and heads out to get his luggage. He walks through the city, the score returns, and we get the reveal of Mozart International School: Academy of Music. At the library, students are studying, a teacher takes Tim over to the office of Dr. Longbow. He is played by F. Murray Abraham who of course starred as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus (1984).
Longbow explains that an exception was made allowing Tim into the school with the death of his father. Dr. Longbow notes that they are having a winter recital and Tim sees that it is of The Magic Flute. He says that it is his father’s favorite opera because he felt a connection to Tamino. A knock at the door announces the arrival of Mr. Baumgartner (Tedros Teclebrhan), Tim’s new teacher. He takes Tim to his quarters and notes that he is in time for auditions. Tim finds his new roommate, Paolo (Ellie Courtiour) who seems more comfortable having a room alone. The ice is broken when Tim points out Paolo’s xylophone. Paolo shows him around the school. He is bullied by Anton (Amir Wilson) who happens to be the son of Enrico Milanesi.
His legacy is something that brings a dimension to the character. Perception is important in the story, who is in the wrong, is often flipped with understanding. Later, Dr. Longbow has the students assembled, and has Tim give his presentation. Tim is nervous and then starts to sing, “Con Te Partirò” by Andrea Bocelli. Wolfe has an impressive singing voice, but he is interrupted by Dr. Longbow. He wants Tim to “embody” the song; be original in how he feels the song. The pressures and expectations of artists, especially the young characters here, is one of the themes. Night, Paolo is asleep, but Tim goes through the book again. The clock turns 2:30 and from the book a blue smoke emerges and forms into a globe! There is a voice leading Tim away. The spirit leads Tim across a hall, his Call to Adventure!
At his room, Anton bursts in with masks and music, but Paolo says he was asleep. The spirit takes Tim to the library, he sees the clock, and below it an empty space between books on a shelf. He returns the book, the clock chimes 3, and Tim is suddenly swung into the cabinet! Tim finds himself in darkness with spirits floating around him. Child-like voices come as the blue globes pulse orange with speaking. The spirits tell Tim that he will find what he wants, but he has to follow three rules. The first is to keep the journey a secret, second, Tim has to be part of the story as Prince Tamino, and third, he has to remember and follow the story.
If Tim fails, the world will fall into “Eternal Night”, and he will share its fate! Tim nods in agreement accepting the quest and then finds himself in a desert. He starts walking on the sand and rocky land. Suddenly, a massive snake, a sand viper with dark scales and black eyes, rears up! The dramatic Mozart music against the Kaiju snake crashing through rocks as it weaves towards Tim is the best! Tim is able to find a crack between rocks and sings, “Have mercy, have mercy.” Operatic and very musical theater, the fantasy setting fits perfectly with singing and the music. He runs, but slips and hits his head against a rock! The snake weaves towards him and then a form in purple robes appears!
Lady Scarlet (Jasmin Shakeri) raises her hand as the snake opens its jaws, then it pulls back and slumps down in a magical sleep. Shakeri was in the German comedy, Buba (2022). He is dragged away by Lady Hazel (Larissa Sirah Herden) and also Lady Azure (Jeanne Goursaud) in blue robes. Herden co-starred with Goursaud in the German drama series, Para - We Are King. Goursaud was in the historical drama series, Barbarians. Lady Scarlet joins them and they all admire Tim’s looks in song. Lady Azure says she will stay with him and the others argue until they hear a storm. The trio remark that it is the Queen of the Night whom commands them.
They leave and Tim revives to hear a playful flute. This is the entrance of the playful Papageno (Iwan Rheon) known for his role as Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones. Tim watches him from behind a rock as Papageno sings about his job as birdcatcher. His jacket has a collar of bird feathers. Papageno is a comic figure, but still wonders if there is a woman who will love him. He notices Tim stumble and then try to ask for help. Papageno mistakes him for a prince from the “royal crest” on his school jacket. Tim is about ot correct him, sees the spirits briefly appears, and then says he is Prince Tamino. Papageno introduces himself as the bird-catcher of the Queen of the Night.
Tim thanks him for saving him. Papageno accepts, startled at the snake, and asks for a reward. The three ladies appear and catches him in the lie. They cover their mouths and Papageno’s lips are sealed Matrix-style. A bit startling, but also funny having the talker have his mouth magically sealed. Lady Hazel takes Tim over to a rock formation. Lady Scarlet forms an image of a woman, Princess Permina (Asha Banks). The actress starred as Brooke in the BBC drama series, Rebel Cheer Squad - A Get Even Series. Tim is entranced by her loveliness and sings about his love. This brings a tear to Papageno’s eye, very funny. Her image shifts into Sophie’s face before fading.
Afterwards, the trio takes him to the see the queen, her blue castle lies underneath the storm. The Queen of the Night (Sabine Devieilhe) wearing a crown on a high pedestal. Devielhie played Ophélie in a 2019 production of the opera, A. Thomas: Hamlet. She looks at the moon next to her throne with a crescent moon. The Queen of the Night asks that Prince Tamino rescue her daughter from the man, Sarastro. Tim accepts, then the Queen of the Night sings, the edges of her robe expands like dark wings, and her song adds that once Princess Permina returns, he will marry her. The queen’s singing is beautiful, but the darkness is frightening. Once the song is over, the darkness folds away.
Papageno mummers to Tim, but Tamino sings that the spell is powerful. The ladies remove their hands, restoring Papageno’s mouth, then Lady Scarlet brings Tamino a gift from the queen. It is not magic beans, but the Magic Flute that can defend him. Papageno tries to leave, but the ladies have him join Tamino’s quest. He is terrified of the “pagan priest”, funny, Tim says he can go on his own. The ladies laugh, then Lady Scarlet gives Papageno magic bells to protect him. I love all of their voices together in song. The trio sing that three sprites will lead them. Papageno admitting he didn’t kill the snake is too funny!
Tamino walks with Papageno and then hears a ticking sound. Timano turns and swallowed into white, throwing him back to the library minutes before 6 a.m.! The Magic Flute is there with him and he takes back the book. Tim is mocked by a student in the hall and meets up with Paolo who tells him about Anton. He tells Tim to meet with him after class, at dark they walk to a quarry between the girl’s school. At some campfires, a friend, Olive (Cosima Henman) is talking to Sophie. Henman was in the German drama film, Bulldog (2022). Sophie waves to Tim and Olive pulls her over to have a chat. I do like the development of the real world romance, but not that the real world does not have singing dialogue.
Sophie says she was in a hurry and left Tim on the train while he was snoring. The last part is embarrassing for him. Olive takes away Paolo and alone, Tim says he sung Bocelli which he says is his usual song, Sophie tells him to take a chance. At the library, it is almost past 11 p.m., and Tim tries to replace the book. At Mr. Baumgartner’s class, he gives a lesson about Masonic symbols in the opera, and later Tim asks about them. Baumgartner tells about the pattern of threes. At night, Tim’s alarm goes off before 3 a.m., he sees Paolo awake writing a letter to his old roommate. At that late time, Paolo explains that the mind is clearest, he is much more likeable than Neville Longbottom, a true artist.
Tim places the book at 3 a.m. and is transported to a forest on a rocky spire. The three spirits say Papageno walked on ahead. At Sarastro’s desert palace, Princess Permina is forcibly taken into a room by guards. She is tied to her bed and a guard explains that she was trying to escape at the wine cellar. At the other side of the room, is the villain Monostatos (Stefan Konarske) in armor with a scar down his left, blind eye! They both sing wonderfully! He is the servant of Sarastro! Tim as Prince Tamino has to save the princess, take three trials from Sarastro (Morris Robinson), to fulfill his destiny! The Magic Flute is a gift, something almost lost, but can be revealed to show its magic; Mozart’s music, a talented cast, romance across worlds, comedy, powerful themes, and a glimpse of an epic, the Lord of the Rings of Mozart's time!
Five+ Magic Flutes out of Five!
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