Benjamin Barker è un uomo realizzato e smisuratamente felice. È un
barbiere eccellente, un padre affettuoso e un marito devoto. Accusato
e condannato ingiustamente dal giudice Turpin, Barker viene deportato
lontano da Londra. Diversi anni dopo, mutato il nome in Sweeney Todd,
il barbiere torna a chiedere soddisfazione all'uomo che gli ha
"usurpato" la vita, insediando il suo talamo e crescendo la sua prole.
Affittata una bottega in Fleet Street, Sweeney Todd affila i rasoi e
torna ad esercitare la professione del barbiere. Turpin e gli ignari
avventori scopriranno che la vendetta per Mr.Todd è un piatto da
servire caldo, cotto e sfornato.
[...]
Sweeney Todd è un musical ma non si esaurisce nel musical. La sua
dimensione musicale non è sovrimposta forzatamente alla storia ma come
nell'opera è costitutivamente innestata nel protagonista, dal quale si
dipana una linea melodica struggente, un requiem che spaventa perché
carico di sventure e presagi. Il diabolico barbiere di Fleet Street
nasce dal buio melodrammatico di un ouverture e a quel buio ritorna,
cercando, e finendo sempre per perderla, la conciliazione con il
dolore.
(Fonte:
http://www.mymovies.it/dizionario/recensione.asp?id=46917)
Avrei potuto scrivere io una recensione su questo film, piuttosto che
farvi leggere una riciclata (molto ben scritta, a mio avviso). Ma vi
avrei certamente tediato con nozioni di carattere tecnico e teorico.
Invece Sweeney Todd è poesia e va visto per quel che è.
Un musical che piacerà certamente anche a chi non ama i musical ;-)
Comunque sentivo di voler condividere con voi alcuni testi presenti in
sceneggiatura. Versi che se ascoltati in musica fanno viaggiare,
maledettamente:
"No Place Like London"
[...]
Anthony:
Is everything alright, Mr. Todd?
Mr. Todd:
I beg your indulgence, Anthony. My mind is far from easy. In these
once-familiar streets...I feel shadows, everywhere.
There was a barber and his wife
and she was beautiful...
a foolish barber and his wife.
She was his reason and his life...
and she was beautiful, and she was virtuous
And he was naive.
There was another man who saw
that she was beautiful...
A pious vulture of the law
who, with a gesture of his claw
removed the barber from his plate!
Then there was nothing but to wait!
And she would fall!
So soft!
So young!
So lost and oh so beautiful!
Anthony:
And the lady, sir? Did she succumb?
Mr. Todd:
Oh, that was many years ago.
I doubt if anyone would know...
I'd like to thank you Anthony. If you hadn't spotted me, I'd be lost
on the ocean still.
Anthony:
Will I see you again?
Mr. Todd:
You might find me if you like; around Fleet Street, I wouldn't wonder.
Antony:
Until then, my friend.
Mr. Todd:
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
and it's filled with people who are filled with shit!
And the vermin of the world inhabit it...
---
"Not While I'm Around"
Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around.
Nothing's gonna harm you, no sir, not while I'm around.
Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays,
I'll send 'em howling,
I don't care, I got ways.
No one's gonna hurt you,
No one's gonna dare.
Others can desert you,
Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there.
Demons'll charm you with a smile, for a while,
But in time...
Nothing can harm you
Not while I'm around...
Not to worry, not to worry
I may not be smart but I ain't dumb
I can do it, put me to it
Show me something I can overcome
Not to worry, Mum
Being close and being clever
Ain't like being true
I don't need to,
I would never hide a thing from you,
Like some...
No one's gonna hurt you, no one's gonna dare
Others can desert you,
Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there!
Demons'll charm you with a smile, for a while
But in time...
Nothing can harm you
Not while I'm around...
---
E solo se avete già visto il film...
"Final Scene"
[...]
Mr. Todd:
(parlato)
"don't i know you", she said... you knew she lived.
Mrs. Lovett:
(parlato)
i was only thinking of you
Mr. Todd:
(parlato)
you lied to me
(duetto)
Mr. Todd:
Lucy, come home again...
Lucy! oh my God!
Lucy, what have I done?
Mrs. Lovett:
no, no, not lied at all
no i never lied
said she took a
poison, she did,
i've never said that she
died! poor thing,
she lived, but it
left her weak in the
head all she did for
months was just lie
there in bed. should
have been in
hospital, wound up
in bedlam instead
poor thing, better
you should think she
was dead, yes i lied
cause i love you.
I'd be twice the
wife she was i
love you. could that
thing have cared for
you, like me?
Mr. Todd:
Mrs. Lovett, you're a bloody wonder, eminently practical and yet
appropriate as always.
As you've said repeatedly there's little point in dwelling on the
past...
(duetto)
Mr. Todd:
now come here my love
nothing to fear my love
Belive me!
what's dead is dead
Mrs. Lovett:
do you mean it?
everything I did
I swear I thought
was only for the best.
Can we still be married?
Mr. Todd:
the history of the world, my pet
Mrs. Lovett:
Oh, Mr. Todd
Oh, Mr. Todd
leave it to me!
Mr. Todd:
is learn forgiveness
and try to forget
Mrs. Lovett:
by the sea, Mr. Todd
we'll be comfy, cozy
by the sea Mr. Todd
where there's no one nosy
Mr. Todd:
life is for the alive, my dear
so let's keep living it
Todd&Lovett
just keep living it
Really Living it
Mrs. Lovett:
(grida)
AHHHH AHHHHH AAHHHHHHHH AHHH AHH AH AH
Mr. Todd:
there was a barber and his wife
and she was beautiful
a foolish barber and his wife
she was his reason and his life
and she was beautiful
and she was virtuous
and he was--
*****************
E per concludere, il braccio finalmente completo di Sweeney Todd:
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/library/sweeney_todd.jpg
Come sempre aspetto i vostri commenti e in ogni caso... buona
visione :D
Steven.