One of the most famous operas in the French repertory, Massenet’s Manon comes back to the Greek National Opera and the music life of Athens after an absence of 52 years! Based on Abbé Prévost’s novel, the opera tells the story of the unlucky love of Chevalier des Grieux for Manon, the girl’s adventurous life, her love for luxury and her death in squalid conditions, while Des Grieux’s tries to keep himself away from her. Massenet renders the ambience of each situation through a music that is lively, full of passion and most of all sensuality, and with a style expressing in the liveliest way the French belle époque, its aesthetics and values.
Reviews
It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.