The Magic Flute

Opera is a unique art form, characterized by sweeping emotions and intricate set design. In many ways, the architecture of the operatic form meshes extremely well with cinematic art, which is why Ingmar Bergman's 1975 film version of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "The Magic Flute," feels so rich and right.

Beautifully captured and performed, Bergman's work is often viewed as one of the greatest film adaptations of an opera ever made, and it's yet another unique entry in the filmmaker's extensively eccentric oeuvre. As yet another restored and revered release in the Criterion Collection's expansive celebration of Bergman's work, "The Magic Flute" is a must for cinema lovers and opera lovers alike.

Lush, lovely and laboriously structured, Bergman's vision transfers perfectly while adapting Mozart's beloved work. One can immediately discern it is a work of passion. Bergman first saw the opera as a child and immediately wanted to recreate it in his own marionette theater, so it's fairly moving to consider how these aspirations evolved. Within the film, Bergman cast some of Europe's finest soloists, including Josef K�stlinger, Ulrik Cold, H�kan Hageg�rd, and Birgit Nordin. In vocals and visuals alike, "The Magic Flute" is absolutely exquisite and spellbinding.

Bonus features are unfortunately lacking on this 2K digital restoration release, but viewers do get two movies in one. "The Magic Flute" on Criterion Collection Blu-ray includes a feature-length documentary produced in 1975 for Swedish television about the making of the film, entitled "Tystnad! Tagning! Trollfl�jten!" Bonus material also includes two interviews, one with Bergman and one with film scholar Peter Cowie, as well as an essay by author Alexander Chee.

"The Magic Flute"
Criterion Collection Blu-ray
$31.96
https://www.criterion.com/films/613-the-magic-flute