Cast: Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Anderson.

After a long time comes an engrossing theatrical operatic musical based on the imagination of renowned writer-director Julie Taymor (‘Frida’, ‘Titus’, and the Broadway smash hit musical ‘The Lion King’). In a tightly packed two hour plus production, Taymor brings together an original story and 33 revolutionary songs of the Beatles like ‘Hey Jude’, ‘I Am the Walrus’, Strawberry Fields Forever’, ‘Hold me tight’ and ‘All You Need is Love’ among many other memorable pieces that defined a generation. Amid commendable choreography , all songs are performed live and have either a male and female vocalist bringing to life the Beatles songbook. Mention must be made of the emotionally charged ‘Let it be’ by a convincing chorus of black singers at the funeral site. Also Sadie – the landlord who is the crooner of her band gives off a great performance. 

The plot revolves around on a love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n roll. The film moves from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. The star-crossed lovers, Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with “Dr. Robert” (Bono) and “Mr. Kite” (Eddie Izzard) as their guides. Max (Joe Anderson) as Lucy’s brother gives off a good shot. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy against all odds to find their own way back to each other.

The film also features cameos by such notable stars as U2’s Bono, Salma Hayek, Eddie Izzard and singer Joe Cocker. Though the film is set a generation back, the story is fresh and alive for today’s audiences and is certainly a movie for today. A must watch.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira