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The Death of Klinghoffer
An adaptation from the controversial John Adams opera about the true life incident that took place in the mid 80s. The liner "Achille Lauro" is on a 12-day cruise in the Mediterranean. While the ship is docked in Alexandria, a maid discovers that four of the passengers are actually members of the Palestine Liberation Organization traveling incognito. Startled by their discovery, the PLO cadre is forced to act. They take the passengers on board hostage and demand the release of 50 Palestinian activists held in Israeli jails. As Egyptian, American, Italian, and Palestinian authorities bicker over the best way to handle the situation (and who would negotiate with the terrorists), the kidnappers find themselves dealing with rebellion among their captives, and an argument between the four PLO members and Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish-American confined to a wheelchair, eventually escalates into violence.
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Plot Summary
This film adaptation of John Adams' opera depicts the hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship in 1985 by Palestinian terrorists. It focuses on the murder of Leon Klinghoffer, a disabled Jewish American tourist, and explores the personal stories of the passengers and hijackers, delving into themes of terrorism, political conflict, and the human cost of violence. The opera offers a complex and often controversial perspective on the events, intertwining music, drama, and political commentary.
Critical Reception
The film adaptation of 'The Death of Klinghoffer' received a mixed but generally positive reception, particularly for its musical and visual artistry. Critics praised Penny Woolcock's direction for its evocative imagery and its success in translating the operatic form to the screen. However, the opera itself, and by extension the film, remained controversial due to its sympathetic portrayal of the terrorists and its exploration of the political motivations behind the hijacking, which some found to be insensitive to the victims.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its striking visuals and musical depth.
Recognized as a powerful, albeit controversial, operatic work.
The film's success in adapting the opera for a cinematic audience was noted.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews and ratings for this specific film adaptation is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The opera 'The Death of Klinghoffer' was composed by John Adams, who famously also composed the opera 'Nixon in China'.
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