Movie Review “La Scala: The Force of Destiny”: Behind The Scenes At Famed Milan Opera House As Preparations Underway For The Show

April 3, 2026 Hannah Moller 0 Entertainment, Movie Reviews, Staten Islander Exclusive

Movie Review “La Scala: The Force of Destiny”: Behind The Scenes At Famed Milan Opera House As Preparations Underway For The Show

For those who love operas and performances, and have always wondered how the magic happens, this film is an excellent peek behind the curtain, as it were. We meet the dancers and singers as they’re being chosen, and then we follow the rehearsals, performances, and preparations as they get ready for the big opening day.

This couldn’t be a more timely opera, as it delves deeply into themes of war as a useless waste of life and effort. Anyone who has explored the history of wars in our world culture can tell you that it is a total waste of energy. All that ‘lost opportunity cost,’ where lives are lost in their prime and often before they’ve really made any kind of mark on the world. Instead, they’re dead. No more chances.

The decorations of the scene are fantastic. It’s incredible how much effort goes into every bit of the stage and every single costume. The costumes are largely made by hand, and the decorations (trees, walls, water) are all made by hand or with power tools when necessary. When it all comes together, it creates a breathtaking scene, and the viewer of the film is taken along on the journey from plain stage with no accountrements to the final end product.

The voices of the singers woven throughout the film bring a powerful presence to the entire film. The movie itself is beautiful, giving you just a glimpse of what the opera is like in Milan on the big day.

This film was excellent, and I would give it five stars:

Juno Films Acquires Exclusive US Distribution Rights to

LA SCALA: THE FORCE OF DESTINY

Juno Films has acquired all rights to Anissa Bonnefont’s latest documentary film LA SCALA: THE FORCE OF DESTINY for distribution in the U.S. from Paris-based Ginger & Fed. Bonnefont’s earlier films include the TriBeCa award-winning documentaries Wonder Boy, Nadia and the feature film La Maison starring Anna Girardot). The film will premier March 27^th at the Quad Cinema in NYC and boasts of a West Coast premiere March 28^th as part of the Laemmle Culture Vulture series, followed by a limited theatrical release.

The film documents the preparation of La Forza del Destino, Verdi’s masterpiece, which opened La Scala’s 2024 season. From the initial rehearsals to the premier, award-winning director Anissa Bonnefont chronicles the world class cast of singers (Soprano Anna Netrebko, Barytone Ludovic Tézier, Tenor Brian Jagde), the Maestro, Riccardo Chailly and the stage director, Leo Muscato, along with the nine hundred artisans, dancers, musicians and technicians who ceaselessly toil until the world’s most iconic season opening.

Every 7th of December marks the beginning of Milan’s legendary opera season at La Scala. Since 1951, the entire city stops and moves to the rhythm of the event known as, “La Prima”. The spectacle is filmed by RaiTV and broadcast live on Rai 1, while opera enthusiasts from around the world flock to Milan to attend the performance in person. In 2024, “La Forza del Destino”, Verdi’s masterpiece, inaugurated the season to rave reviews.

With La Scala: The Force of Destiny, Anissa Bonnefont, accompanied by cinematographer Martina Cocco, invites the audience into the creative hive that is La Scala during the final months of preparation, capturing the tensions, the stress, and the passion that span from the first meeting of the opera team all the way to the pull of the curtain as it raises above the stage. In a spirited countdown, driven by conductor Riccardo Chailly and stage director Leo Muscato, the film follows every step of this extraordinary artistic creation. The contemporary music of Jack Bartman accompanies the masterful compositions of Verdi while the film’s script is brought to life by chief editor Guerric Catala.

“Anissa’s film is a tour de force in revealing how one of the world’s most acclaimed opera houses prepares for its annual premiere” says Vondah Elizabeth Sheldon CEO of Juno Films. “Watching the film brings the magic of opera to the big screen and provides a rare glimpse into what is required before the opening curtain. The film will tantalize opera lovers around the world.”

The final salute. Image Credit – Juno Films

Juno Films is a boutique film distributor. Some of the company’s recent releases include That They May Face The Rising Sun, Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other, Housewife of the Year and Lasse Halstrom’s Hilma.

Synopsis:

December 7th marks opening night of Milan’s legendary opera season at La Scala. Since 1951, this is the evening when everything stops and the entire city moves to the rhythm of an event known as, “La Prima”. Opera enthusiasts from around the world flock to attend this special performance and on December 7th, 2024, Verdi’s masterpiece, “La Forza del Destino”, inaugurates the season.

In a world full of conflict and political tensions, stage director Leo Muscato, costume designer Silvia Aymonino, and set designer Federica Parolini envision the arena of “La Forza del Destino” as set in a global war zone, transforming Verdi’s opera into a contemporary performance that resonates strongly with the present.

From the first rehearsals with the singers, musicians, chorists and dancers, to the moment of La Scala’s fateful curtain rise on opening night, we are there with the artists, the ushers, in the heart of the audience, and with the divas and maestros of the theater, all led by the brilliant and charismatic Maestro Chailly.

The Force of Destiny is an electric experience from behind the scenes, the final few months of preparation, the pressure, the stress, and the hive of talent and passion that defines La Scala.

This film, structured like a work of fiction without voice over, tells the exclusive story of the highest artistic ambition in an organic and carnal way: The world’s most legendary opera house, and all the talent in front and behind the scenes that bring it to life.