La voix humaine

Music by Francis Poulenc
Libretto by Jean Cocteau
Based on the play by Jean Cocteau
Performed in French with English closed captions

Star soprano Patricia Racette takes her acclaimed interpretation of Elle from the stage to the screen in this new film of one of opera’s most powerful monodramas. Described by Poulenc as “a musical confession,” La voix humaine tells the story of one woman as she grapples with grief, denial, and anger in the face of unrequited love, all shared through a one-sided telephone call. Racette’s previous stage performances in the role have been praised as “deeply poignant” (Chicago Tribune) and a “sophisticated characterization” (Philadelphia Inquirer on her Festival O18 performance).

Directed by the visionary James Darrah (director, Breaking the Waves; creative producer & co-screenwriter, Soldier Songs) and filmed at the gilded Elkins Estate in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, this new cinematic interpretation imbues Poulenc’s intimate musical creation with even greater psychological insight and nuance.

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