This is an oddity of sorts. I believe that the performance, featuring Rostropovich directing the London Philharmonic, preceded the film. The film was then made in eastern Europe with a cast lip-synching the performance. The film is lightly pornographic, with male and female frontal nudity and several fairly athletic sex scenes. On its own this would be a titillating, mildly interesting drama about the wanton and rather stupid wife of a rich merchant. With the music and setting of Shostakovich's opera, it stands as a highly unusual opera film. The musical performances, by the way, are acceptable -- I hesitate to say "inspired," but there are not many examples of this opera in the catalog, and (at this writing) no others on DVD.
Review of Lady Macbeth von Mzensk
