Bel Canto(2018)

Plot Summary

• In Tokyo in 1996, businessman Katsumi Hosokawa is listening to opera when he is told it is time to go. He says good-bye to his son who is listening to heavy metal. In an unspecified South American country, numerous children gather outside Hosokawa's limo, leading him to comment that poverty is so bad that the area would be a poor location for his factory. Nevertheless, he promised this factory would be built if opera singer Roxane Coss performed for him. He arrives at the mansion of Vice President Ruben Ochoa, who is hosting a party. Also attending are the ambassador from France, Simon Thibault, and Russian delegate Fyodorov.Roxane complains on the phone that she has been sent to a dangerous country and asks that all her future performances be in the United States or Britain. The party goes well, and Hosokawa talks to a number of people through his translator Gen. Then it is time for Roxane to perform.The performance is interrupted by uniformed people with guns, led by Comandante Benjamin, demanding the release of political prisoners. President Masuda was supposed to attend but decided he would rather watch a telenovela. Benjamin threatens Ochoa until he is convinced the host does not know where Masuda is.Joachim Messner, who speaks English, is sent by the Red Cross to negotiate. The Comandante agrees to let the elderly, women, and priests leave. One priest says he is needed and insists on staying. The Comandante realizes how valuable Roxane is and insists that she stay. Roxane's accompanist Christopf is diabetic and needs medication, so he is allowed to leave, but when he finds out Roxane was not released, he returns and is accidentally shot and killed.Hosokawa offers his condolences to Roxane, with Gen serving as his translator. Eventually, they develop a relationship which turns into a romance. Hosokawa teaches Roxane to play chess after she finds a chess set.Food is delivered, but Roxane wonders what kind of meat she is eating.The government tries to force the soldiers to surrender by turning off the water. The Comandante demands that Roxane go outside and sing so the government will realize they need to reverse their actions. Roxane doesn't want to sing, and besides, she has gone a week without singing and is not used to doing that. She is threatened but responds that she is too valuable to kill. She also needs an accompanist. The priest is asked but he can't do it. Simon can play, but what he plays is "Maple Leaf Rag".Nevertheless, Roxane eventually goes outside and delivers a magnificent performance. The water is eventually turned back on.Roxane asks to be released but she is given a nice room instead. Carmen, who guards Roxane's room, asks Gen to teach her English. They develop a romantic relationship. Hosokawa and Roxane also begin a relationship, even though Hosokawa is married, but Hosokawa justifies cheating on his wife by saying he's not going back home.An incentive for the Comandante to release hostages is the announcement that his family might be threatened, but if he meets demands, he will be allowed to go to Sweden to see them. This does not really change anything.Cesar, one of the soldiers, makes fun of opera by singing like Roxane in a silly manner, but he seriously wants to learn to sing. Roxane agrees to teach him.Ishmael, another soldier, is ridiculed by Ruben because he doesn't know how to work. Ishamel insists he can work, and when he shows he can, Ruben offers him a job once the crisis is over.There is a formal meal in a dining room with a long table, with candles and proper dishware and silver. The soldiers join, and the priest says grace.Both romantic couples have secret encounters.With Roxane teaching him, Cesar messes up when trying to sing, and he is so embarrassed he goes outside and climbs a tree. The Comandant allows everyone to go outside, and when a soccer ball is found, while some try to talk Cesar down, others start kicking the ball around. Everyone is having fun.It appears progress is being made toward a peaceful resolution. Then government soldiers start shooting, and every enemy soldier the audience has gotten to know is shot. Gen shields Carmen and is shot himself. Roxane screams.A year later, Roxane performs in a gigantic auditorium with Hosokawa watching.

Storyline

• Follows a famous soprano (Moore) who travels to South America to give a private concert at a party for a wealthy Japanese industrialist (Watanabe). Just as the glittering gathering of diplomats and politicians convenes, the mansion is taken over by a guerrilla rebel group demanding the release of their imprisoned comrades. Threats are made, lives are lost, a tense negotiation begins, and a long standoff ensues.