Bohemian Rhapsody - Lichtburg Open Air am Dom

In the organizer's words:

Admission from 20:00

England, the 1970s. 19-year-old Farrouk, who everyone calls Freddie, has big dreams: he wants to go on stage, sing - and become a legend. But he is still working at the airport as a baggage handler. When he plucks up all his courage and applies to be the new lead singer in a band, he has no idea that this is the beginning of a musical era. Because the band is called "Queen". And he calls himself Freddie Mercury. As a charismatic, passionate performer, he takes the audience by storm. But the more he begins to find himself on stage, the more he loses his grip on life. And soon risks losing everything that means something to him.

On July 13, 1985, Queen played in front of 72,000 people at Wembley Stadium as part of the Live Aid Concert. Over 1.9 billion people watched the concert live. The concert serves as a narrative framework for Bryan Singer and Dexter Fletcher's film BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. As an artist biopic, the film is told from Mercury's perspective. In doing so, the film shows the public man and at the same time gets close to the private side of the shy and insecure man who longed for real intimacy throughout his life and yet often betrayed his friends because he got involved with the wrong advisors. The fact that he was never really able to come to terms with his homosexuality is an aspect that the film never exposes, but rather sensitively weaves into the narrative. Rami Malek is magnificent in his portrayal of Mercury. The vulnerability of a tender artist's soul, the neuroses and airs and graces of an outsized star and the impulsiveness of a genius who never rests - Malek never leaves any doubt about the authenticity of his portrayal. The rest of the ensemble is in no way inferior, especially in their interplay with each other.

In addition to the history of the band, Anthony McCarten's screenplay also takes up the story of how famous songs such as "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Will Rock You" and "Love Of My Life" came about. And when the climax of the film is a meticulous and detailed re-enactment of the band's legendary 25-minute performance, the viewer can feel the power that music can unleash. This is also proven by the soundtrack, which hardly misses a Queen hit. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is a thrilling musical film full of great emotions. Staged with great power, opulence and drama.

Source: German Film and Media Rating