Falling for Figaro

Falling for Figaro

Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2021
Founder	Ben Lewin
Products	Romantic comedy film

Falling for Figaro is a 2021 romantic comedy film both penned and directed by Ben Lewin, featuring performances by Joanna Lumley, Danielle Macdonald, and Hugh Skinner.

The narrative centers on Millie, an American fund manager who abandons her high-paying position in London to chase her ambition of becoming an opera singer. She relocates to the Scottish Highlands to undergo a year of rigorous vocal coaching under the guidance of a former opera star, competing alongside other aspiring singers, including a fellow student named Max.

Initially showcased at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival within the Industry Selects market in September 2020, the film’s public debut was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It premiered in the United States on 1 October 2021, followed by releases in the United Kingdom on 22 October 2021 and Australia on 14 July 2022.

Plot

Millie Cantwell, an American fund manager passionate about becoming an opera singer, decides to leave her well-paid London job shortly after being offered a promotion. She moves away from her boyfriend Charlie to the Scottish Highlands to receive intensive vocal instruction from retired diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop.

Patricia Hartley, affiliated with the London conservatory, recommends that Millie reach out to Geoffrey-Bishop for preparation ahead of the annual Singer of Renown competition and to secure a position with an opera company. Millie persuades the diva to audition her by offering a generous hourly fee. Geoffrey-Bishop’s sole other pupil, Max Thistlewaite, compensates his lessons by working at her cottage instead of paying cash.

In this small Highland village, Millie rents accommodation from Ramsay, who owns a local pub called The Filthy Pig. Max also works there and initially displays hostility towards Millie as they are direct rivals. The townspeople discuss Max’s troubled history and his hope to break what he calls a ‘curse.’ Despite early friction, Meghan agrees to train Millie after an interrupted audition.

Millie discovers that Max has been training for five years and is attempting the competition for the third and final time. Ramsay points out that much of the village’s economy depends on Meghan’s presence. Meghan’s demanding training regimen strains Millie’s voice, but Max assists her recovery. After hearing Millie sing, Ramsay advises Meghan to adopt a gentler approach.

Max shares theoretical vocal materials with Millie and coaches her; both participate in a recital in Edinburgh where a critic praises Millie but finds Max’s performance emotionally lacking. They rehearse a duet together until Millie’s boyfriend Charlie unexpectedly arrives, disrupting their progress and causing tension between Millie and Max.

Meghan suggests that Max should distance himself so that Millie will miss him. When both are accepted into Singer of Renown, they briefly grow closer but agree to avoid contact during the contest. Millie performs fifth among fifteen contestants; after leaving the stage, Max proposes to her. Overwhelmed by the moment, she defers her response to Meghan, who predicts Max will be victorious—and he ultimately wins.

Three years later, now an established performer, Max must select a co-lead for Don Giovanni; one contender is Millie. She reveals that her relationship with Charlie ended when she left their shared workplace. Together, Max and Millie deliver an outstanding performance.

Production and filming

The casting process for Falling for Figaro commenced on 29 October 2019, with Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald confirmed as the principal leads. By 13 December 2019, the ensemble expanded to include Hugh Skinner, Shazad Latif, and Rebecca Benson.

Filming took place over the course of two winter months, specifically December and January, in locations across the Scottish Highlands and Trossachs. Key sites included Glencoe, Loch Lomond, and various theatres in Glasgow. The production received financial support from Screen Australia, Screen Scotland, and Film Victoria. Post-production activities were completed in Melbourne, Australia, during February.

The soundtrack of Falling for Figaro incorporates selections from celebrated operas such as The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Romeo and Juliet, La traviata, Carmen, and The Magic Flute.

Release

Although Falling for Figaro had its industry premiere within the Industry Selects segment at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, it was not shown to the general public there. Throughout 2021, the film was showcased at multiple festivals including Film by the Sea in Vlissingen, the 2021 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, the Berkshire International Film Festival, the Sedona Film Festival, and was selected officially for the 2021 British Film Festival.

On 24 September 2020, WestEnd Films revealed international distribution agreements spanning several territories. Distribution responsibilities in Australia and New Zealand were managed by Umbrella Entertainment alongside Paramount Pictures. European distribution rights were acquired by Twelve Oaks (Spain), Splendid (Benelux), Investacommerce (former Yugoslav countries), and Entertainment Film Distributors (UK).

IFC Films secured US distribution rights on 7 December 2020, scheduling a North American release for 2021 under the leadership of IFC Films’ new president Arianna Bocco.

By December 2020, further distribution deals included releases through Happinet in Japan, Entermode in South Korea, Central Motion Picture Corporation in Taiwan, and Phoenicia Pictures covering the Middle East. In Europe, Portuguese distribution was handled by Nos Lusomundo, while Polish broadcasts appeared on Ale Kino+, Movie Channel, Canal+ Premium, and Poland Group. Canadian theatrical distribution was overseen by Pacific Northwest Pictures, with additional in-flight viewing arrangements via Cinesky.

Reception

According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Falling for Figaro holds an approval rating of 73% based on 26 critic reviews, with an average score of 6.5 out of 10. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 51 out of 100 from six critics, reflecting "mixed or average reviews."

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter remarked that "Fans of lighthearted romantic comedies and opera enthusiasts alike may find some gentle enjoyment in Falling for Figaro," although he noted that its humor does not quite reach the level associated with Gilbert and Sullivan. Guy Lodge writing for Variety characterized it as "A somewhat clichéd yet charming carpe diem comedy," while Roxana Hadadi at RogerEbert.com emphasized that "The cast's performances render Falling for Figaro an engaging diversion despite its predictable storyline."

Some reviews were less positive. Gary Goldstein from the Los Angeles Times stated, "It’s difficult to become enamored with Falling for Figaro," whereas Beatrice Loayza of the The New York Times acknowledged the film’s innovative casting choices but found little else meriting acclaim.