It is not surprising at all that having been a long-time an admirer of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's music and especially his opera "Die Zauberflöte" ("The Magic Flute"), Ingmar Bergman has adapted it in one of the best and enjoyable operatic film ever made. Watching Bergman's presentation of "The Magic Flute" does not require from a viewer an extensive opera-going experience or familiarization with all his often morose psychological studies. "The Magic Flute" (the opera or/and the film) can be enjoyed on different levels. It has many hidden philosophical and political references which were relevant back in 18th century but it is also a beautiful and poetic fairy tale which has many funny scenes (thanks to Papageno, the bird-catcher) as well as lyrical and tender scenes between two young lovers, and the dark ones with the sinister sorcerers. I've seen "The Magic Flute" in the different countries, in different versions and adaptations but I enjoyed the most Ingmar Bergman's vision of it. In 1975 National Society of USA Film Critics awarded Ingmar Bergman with a Special Award - for demonstrating how pleasurable opera can be on film. There is nothing I can add only that Mozart + Bergman+ Flute = Magic.
Review of The Magic Flute
