Turandot (2022)

"Only I" instead of "Nessun dorma"

I know Turandot. It is a famous opera with the even more famous aria “Nessun dorma,” but I actually didn’t know the full story until I watched this musical. The Korean Turandot, even as a movie, lacks the grand orchestration and the exotic, epic staging of the original opera, but in its own way it offers a fresh take on the story, blending pop, rock, and ballad elements in the music.

The acting here is a bit… well, let’s just say theatrical. Since this is a film, I expected more detailed scenes with wide, cinematic shots, but the way it’s presented makes it feel as if we’re watching a stage production rather than a movie.

But the most important thing is the music, and it was very good. All the spoken parts felt a bit slow, but the musical numbers became more and more enjoyable as I listened, and right now I’m also listening to the OST. So, in short: this is not really a movie, and it’s not an opera either, but it’s a very nice musical with some great songs (for example, “Only I – 오직 나만이”) and an emotional touch that celebrates love overcoming tears and curses.

P.S. The OST of this musical is going straight onto my playlist.

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