MovieChat Forums > La traviata (1983) Discussion > The ending? (spoilers i guess)

The ending? (spoilers i guess)

posted 14 years ago by nihilistwonder
3 replies | jump to latest

Not that there is a real spoiler, as everyone knows the end of the Traviata-Camille" story, but the way the end was staged here....

After the whole scene where Violetta is surrounded by her returned lover, his repentant father, her devoted servant, sympathetic doctor, and even an added character, the young teen admirer, suddenly at the very last scene, she's out of bed, dancing around, and is shown to be alone at the instant of death.

Does this mean Zeffirelli wanted the audience to think that the whole reunion scene, like her early visions of flashbacks about her story, was just a fantasy of the dying Violetta? Because on stage, it is presented as an actual event at her death bed.

I know this is going to take 3 years for an answer, but I'm very patient.

"Shake me up, Judy!"

[–] ciocio-2 12 years ago

It's been too many years since I saw this (in the cinema, during its original release) for me to remember and have a real answer for you (sorry), but thanks for reminding me that I should find this on DVD (there is one, right?) and see it again. My memories of it are wonderful! Then again, I also saw the later OTHELLO in the cinema, and I think I really liked it (of course I love the opera), but I've heard and read many who say it was such an artistic failure, after the success of TRAVIATA. I want to see both again; re. OTHELLO, I particularly remember being thrilled with Iago's Credo aria and scene. Anyway, I'll post again after re-viewing TRAVIATA, with my impression of that last scene.

Multiplex: 100+ shows a day, NONE worth watching. John Sayles' latest: NO distribution. SAD.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] VaticanAssassinWarlock 10 years ago

"Does this mean Zeffirelli wanted the audience to think that the whole reunion scene, like her early visions of flashbacks about her story, was just a fantasy of the dying Violetta? Because on stage, it is presented as an actual event at her death bed."

I wondered this too. I am new to opera and this is the first time I have seen any version of La Traviata but the way the film set up Alfredo's return, then everyone suddenly appearing to her saying everything she wanted to hear, it did seem like a possible delirium in her final moments and I think her dying alone definitely reinforced this. I think this interpretation fits with the overall tone of the story in its realistic depiction of the unrelenting unfairness of life.