‘Becoming Traviata’ Review

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Philippe Béziat’s Becoming Traviata is less a documentary and more a backstage pass at what it takes to re-imagine the Verdi classic La Traviata. The film follows director Jean-Francois Sivadier and the world famous coloratura soprano Natalie Dessay as they rehearse and prepare for the big night. While the film provides some great insight into the inner workings of such a famous production and Dessay is a delight, it still goes without saying that this is a film geared toward the most die-hard opera fans.

For the most part, the viewer acts as a silent bystander, watching the many days of rehearsals in preparation for opening night. The camera slowly floats around the performers, an occasionally lingers on the random objects located around the rehearsal space. This is all done very well, pulling the camera in on moments that seem appropriate, and casually moving along with the director and Dessay. It uses soft sweeps during the more elegant segments of the performance and slightly more jittery hand held shots during the frantic, more excited moments.

The production itself aims to modernize the classic story of a doomed love affair by creating a minimalist post-punk atmosphere, yet retaining its passion and exuberance. The lavish props and opulent costumes are stripped away in favor of modest outfits and a single chandelier. This provides an interesting dynamic where the audience focuses on the performance and the emotion of the characters rather than any extraneous elements.

In order for a concept like this to work, one needs the vision of a strong director and an equally endearing lead. Jean-Francois Sivadier and Natalie Dessay are both extremely talented and tackle this difficult task with ease. They also bring more entertainment value to the film itself, as they are both likable and charming which leads to an interesting aspect of this documentary.

Everyone, from the cast and crew, to the London Symphony Orchestra who provided the music, seemed laid back and were truly enjoying themselves. In most films that center around preparation for a large production, we see overbearing directors, panic attacks, lots of yelling, and a general sense that everyone is miserable. While it was clear that everyone was taking this seriously, there was still a fair amount of laughing and genuine happiness that was reflected from the performers. This provided a refreshing and more enjoyable viewing experience.

one of the biggest criticisms I have with the film is that we never get to full see the end product. This could be due to the fact that they want us to go out and see the production, however it felt like a lot of build up without witnessing a fully realized end result. This made it feel like watching a 2-hour making-of documentary on a movie that you’ve never seen. Of course, for most it will be the journey that’s the reward for this film and for any opera buffs Becoming Traviata is a simply must-see.