Aria from 1987 is a compilation film.  A number of directors were each given 50,000 pounds to make a short film based on an opera.  Ken Russell chose an excerpt from Turandot. Linzi Drew, the star, says "Nessum Dorma... from Turandot translates as ´None Shall Sleep´, and Ken's idea was to portray an accident victim who is comatose... His inspiration came from losing someone close to him in a car crash".

The film is one of Russell's best and is highly recommended.

Ken's segment was filmed in a studio in Battersea.

Other directors at their peak in the Aria films include Altman and Jean Luc Goddard. Disappointing are Roeg and especially Derek Jarman.

Ken with one of the props from the film (click on the image for the source).
 

People

Linzi Drew stars. She is a porn star, and has appeared in minor roles in Russell's Lair and Salome and the television ABC of British Music.

The music is from Puccini's Turandot.
 

Best Image

The dummy parts swaying.
 

Best Scene

The servants carefully placing rubies on the arms of the girl
 

Themes

The film pays homage to Lang's Metropolis (left).

The burning car is similar to the car in the war scene in Tommy (left), and again to Metropolis (right).

The wand is similar to the cross in Tommy (left), and the same image as well as the same clouds appear in Mefistofoles.
 

Films

Other films released in the same year include Wall Street and Good Morning Vietnam.
 

Click title for film French Dressing * Billion Dollar Brain * Women in Love * The Music Lovers* The Devils * The Boy Friend * Savage Messiah * Mahler * Tommy * Lisztomania * Valentino * Altered States * Crimes of Passion * Gothic * Aria * The Lair of the White Worm * Salome's Last Dance * The Rainbow * Whore * Mindbender * Trapped Ashes/ The Girl with the Golden Breasts