Farinelli

Farinelli is a 1994 movie directed by Gérard Corbiau, based on the true story of Farinelli, the stage name of Carlo Broschi, a famous Italian singer from the 18th century who was castrated as a young boy to preserve his singing voice.

The movie opens up with Carlo as a child, being forced by his father to sing in front of a group of students. Carlo's voice is so impressive that a renowned musician named Handel offers to take him to a singing school in Naples, where he will receive top-notch musical training.

The movie then fast-forwards to Carlo's adulthood, where he is now a world-famous castrato singer, renowned for his angelic singing voice. However, Carlo is plagued with personal demons and a deep sense of loneliness, which drives him to frequent brothels and engage in reckless behavior.

Carlo's life takes a turn when he meets a famous Spanish singer named Farinelli, who has been hired by the same opera company as Carlo. Farinelli is also a castrato and possesses a voice that is almost equal to Carlo's. Farinelli and Carlo become friends, and Carlo shares his struggles with Farinelli, who empathizes with him.

In the meantime, Carlo's brother Riccardo, who was also castrated as a boy, but his voice did not develop the same way as Carlo's, becomes jealous of his brother's success and plots to tarnish his reputation. Riccardo divulges Carlo's secrets to the press, which causes a scandal.

Carlo, distraught over the media's reaction, decides to retire from the stage and live a life of seclusion. Farinelli visits Carlo at his countryside estate, where they reconnect and Carlo reveals to Farinelli the truth behind his castration- that he was forced into it by his brother, who was jealous of his singing abilities.

The movie closes with both Carlo and Farinelli going on stage together after Carlo's long hiatus. The audience is struck by the purity and beauty of their singing, and their joint performance becomes an instant classic.

Overall, Farinelli is a beautifully shot and emotionally poignant movie about the power of music and the consequences of pursuing one's passion. The movie is a must-watch for classical music lovers and anyone interested in the fascinating history of castrato singers.