Diva Dolorosa

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

During the silent period, a surprising number of opera stars found themselves starring in movies, especially in Europe, and while the voices that were their fortune could not be heard, their hyper-emotional histrionics often communicated with unusual power on the big screen. Filmmaker Peter Delpeut, who previously examined the mysterious and otherworldly images of early cinema in Lyrical Nitrate, has compiled footage from a dozen operatic silents released between 1913 and 1920 in his feature Diva Dolorosa. Edited for emotional and visual impact rather than narrative clarity, Diva Dolorosa features vintage performances from such singing stars as Lyda Borelli, Pina Meichelli, and Francesca Bertini. The film also boasts an original score by Loek Dikker, which was performed with a live orchestra for the film's world premiere at the 1999 Holland Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Screen: Color
• Features:
  • Historical essay by noted film scholar Angela Dalle Vacche, author of Diva: Defiance and Passion in Early Italian Cinema
  • Statement from director Peter Delpeut
  • Italian film diva photo gallery

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Lyda Borelli
       Pina Menichelli
       Francesca Bertini

• Director:

  Peter Delpeut

• Producer:

  Frank Roumen

• Screenwriter:

  Peter Delpeut

• Composer (Music Score):

  Loek Dikker

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Loek Dikker

• Composer (Music Score):

  Ed Spanjaard

• Editor:

  Menno Boerema