Italian Film Festival 2026: La Scala: The Force of Destiny

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https://www.palacecinemas.com.au/

Date Reviewed: 12/09/2025

Opera fans have previously been able to rejoice in documentaries about the Paris and Stuttgart Operas. But perhaps the most intriguing look into this particular world is La Scala: The Force of Destiny. This fly-on-the-wall documentary reveals the extraordinary amount of hard graft that goes into La Prima, the opening night of the 2025 opera season at the world’s most famous opera house, Milan’s La Scala.

French director Anissa Bonnefont is obviously an opera fan. Here, she fashions what can only be considered a love letter to the genre. But do not be fooled: she is not someone who is going to spoon-feed her audience. There are no talking-head interviews or commentary here. Instead, she leaves her camera trained on capturing the action behind the scenes as preparations unfold. It’s an intriguing and very exclusive look, offering audiences remarkable access to this celebrated institution.

Plácido Domingo, famous for being one third of the Three Tenors, makes an appearance in the film. He describes how important opening night is and how this one carries particular significance. And he’s 100% correct. The story begins 80 days out from the grand performance and pays tribute to the 900 people who will play their individual parts in bringing it all to life.

While US tenor Brian Jagde and Russian opera star Anna Netrebko star in the production, Bonnefont places much of her focus on the crew behind the scenes. Director Leo Muscato and conductor Riccardo Chailly are absolute perfectionists. Similarly, costume designer Silvia Aymonino and set designer Federico Paolini work tirelessly to craft the visuals for this sumptuous spectacle: Verdi’s famous opera, The Force of Destiny.

A revised version of Verdi’s work premiered at La Scala in 1869, giving this production an added connection to the opera house’s long and storied history. Here, the opera is reimagined against the backdrop of global warfare, with its four acts set across different eras. This helps contemporise the work for modern audiences. At times, viewers may be left wishing there had been a deeper dive into the rich and colourful history of this landmark building, but instead they will have to make do with this fascinating chapter from the 21st century.

This film answers some of the questions theatre lovers may have about what goes into creating and perfecting a major production. It certainly helps demystify some of the art and processes behind the scenes. Bonnefont’s camera captures everything in a rather organic and unobtrusive manner, allowing events to unfold naturally each day and night in the lead-up to the main event.

La Scala: The Force of Destiny is a fascinating look at the creation of a famous opera inside a world-class opera house. It pays homage to the prestigious divas and maestros in the same breath as the people knocking together the sets and sewing the incredible costumes. Full of pomp and ceremony, this is a film that will make you want to stand up at the end and say, “Brava!”

La Scala: The Force of Destiny plays as part of the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival.

Reviewed by Natalie Salvo