After a world tour of the festivals in Palm Springs, Pusan, Sevilla and Hamburg "Juan" opens in Denmark on 7 April.
"Juan" is the collaboration between opera wunderkind Kasper Holten and veteran screenwriter Mogens Rukov. Director Holten is soon to leave his position as Artistic Director of The Royal Danish Opera to take over as Director of Opera at The Royal Opera House in London.
As a screenwriter Mogens Rukov was an instrumental figure in the Dogme 95 movement, co-writing Thomas Vinterberg's "The Celebration" and Ole Christian Madsen's "Kira's Reason: A Love Story".
In Rukov and Holten's modern interpretation of Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni" the heartless seducer is an urban playboy who enlists his friend to create a video database of all the shattered women in his wake. The lyrics are sung in English, with a fair share of profanity thrown in to stress the sultry and emotionally charged atmosphere.
Holten was especially drawn to the extremes in Juan's psychology: "He seduces woman after woman because he's addicted," Holten observes."He does it compulsively like when you're addicted to alcohol, your work or gambling."
"Juan" is written by Rukov and Holten who also directed. Malene Blenkov and Michel Schønnemann has produced for Blenkov and Schønnemann APS. International sales are handled by TrustNordisk.
Holten and Rukov Behind New Film Opera
NEW RELEASE. "Juan", feature film debut by Kasper Holten, premieres in Denmark.
6. April 2011
