When Ardant is on the screen, this is a brilliant film, when she is not, it falls apart. The sub-plot of Larry's here today and gone tomorrow affair with Michael (Jay Rodan) causes the film to lose focus, and it is diminished and muddied by it. The operatic portions however are a total delight, with Ardant/Callas filming the opera she recorded but never performed, Bizet's "Carmen." As her Don José, Italian actor Gabriel Garko is excellent. Director/writer Franco Zeffirelli knew Callas well, and knows opera (he was doing opera sets as far back as the early 1960s) equally well. This film is a testament to their great friendship, and though I don't think this film will appeal to a wide audience, opera fans, and especially Callas admirers, will love it.

A marvelous bit of casting is Joan Plowright as Sarah, a journalist and friend of the fabulous diva. She is a superb character actress, and perfect for this witty role. Justino Diaz is seen briefly as Scarpia in "Tosca", and Chanel, the couturier who dressed Callas, made the gorgeous outfits for Ardant. Some of the music selections heard as well as "Carmen" and "Tosca" are: Bellini, "Casta Diva" ("Norma"), Puccini, "Donna non vidi mai" ("Manon Lascaut"), "Un bel di vedremo" ("Madama Butterfly"), "O mio bambino caro" ("Gianni Schicchi"), and Verdi, "Libiamo ne lieti calici" ("La Traviata"). The cinematography by Ennio Guarnieri of Paris is lovely, and total running time is 108 minutes. DVD extras include interviews and a "Behind the Scenes Featurette."

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