Joe Wright’s musical adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac reimagines a classic tale of unrequited love
In short: This 2021 romantic drama transforms the legendary 1897 play into an intimate musical. Starring Peter Dinklage as the highborn cadet, the film captures a tragic love triangle through live-recorded vocal performances. Despite critical acclaim for its acting and soundtrack, the production faced significant challenges at the global box office.
Directed by Joe Wright and written by Erica Schmidt, the 2021 film Cyrano is based on the 2018 stage musical of the same name. The narrative follows the familiar arc of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play, though it replaces the iconic nose monologue with new text. Peter Dinklage portrays the titular character, a brilliant but physically different cadet who hides his deep love for the orphan Roxanne. Because he believes he is unworthy, he writes eloquent letters for the handsome but inarticulate Christian de Neuvillette, who also pursues her. The deception leads to a hasty marriage, a forced military deployment, and a final, heartbreaking revelation years later.
The production, filmed in Sicily during the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritized authenticity by recording all vocal performances live on set. The music and lyrics were crafted by members of the National, who also contributed to the original stage production. While the film earned praise from critics—maintaining an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes—it struggled commercially. With a production budget of $30 million, the film grossed only $6.4 million worldwide. It was the final Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer title released before the studio was acquired by Amazon in March 2022.
Despite its financial performance, the film garnered significant industry recognition. It received nominations at the 79th Golden Globe Awards, the 75th British Academy Film Awards, and the 94th Academy Awards. The film’s release strategy was complex, shifting multiple times due to pandemic-related delays and efforts to position the work for awards contention. Ultimately, it arrived in theaters in February 2022, offering a unique, musical perspective on a story that has been adapted for the screen many times throughout history.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Cyrano (film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-cyrano-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
