The Man with an Opera House in His Living Room

Colour, 35 mm
United Kingdom, 2003, 59 min
Section: Documentary Competition

Synopsis

A documentary recording one man’s efforts to realize a dream in the middle of the English countryside. Former professional opera singer Richard White fights bravely against stifling parking regulations and his neighbours’ ill will in his determination to organize a performance of a Mozart opera literally in his own living room. The quiet village of Claxton soon gains a reputation which attracts classical music enthusiasts from far and wide, something the stodgy, peace-loving inhabitants don’t like at all. Director Mira Erdevički accompanies White during preparations for the performance, and is discreetly present for every important moment, maintaining a certain emotional distance from those standing in front of the camera. Her film offers a look at one unusual man’s fortitude, using sensitively chosen filmmaking elements to highlight a remarkable event.

About the director

Mira Erdevički (b. 1965, Yugoslavia) graduated from the School of Journalism in Belgrade, then from Prague’s Film Academy (FAMU) in 1993. She has worked as a radio announcer, broadcast journalist, editor of a literary magazine, and even for a time as a pro handball player. Filmography: Black Rose (1990), The First 25 Are the Hardest (1990), Locked in Together (1992), Actors from the Pavilion (1993), La Vallée de la Lune: My House and Its Last Christmas (1993), Underground (1993-1994, assistant dir. to Emir Kusturica), Strangers in Their Own Land (1995), Black-and-White in Colour (1999), Somewhere Better (2002), Mostar Sevdah Reunion Band (in preparation).