Though unable to comment on Ferinelli's historical accuracy in this film, I was intrigued by the beautiful singing voice. Directly after viewing this movie on television on went my computer to research why Ferinelli's voice sounded so feminine. The history my eyes devoured regarding his life astounded me. How sad that not many 'castrati's' did not survive the castration. Additionally, I realized the movie is indeed not very factual and agree that the sexual content was unnecessary. Nonetheless, it is an enchanting movie despite the fiction entwined with some fact. Very soon I will purchase the soundtrack and hear what other IMDb users are raving about. I look forward to being lost in, mesmerized, and hypnotized by the operatic voice (voices). This film is a must see for anyone in love with opera, and the best music ever to first entertain the human ear.

This movie is about Farinelli, one of the famous Castro Singers during the 18th century. He had the voice of an angel when he was a boy and since his family was very poor, an operation of castration was done to him in order to preserve his voice and help his family out in poverty. There were some strange parts during this film such as when he got older he and his brother Riccardo traveled together and never left each other. His brother was there during Farinelli's lovemaking in order to complete and finish the task that his brother could not do since he had been castrated. And then there was the white horses that Farinelli saw every time danger was present or near. This warning was not clearly explained in the film. The acting was very good. I enjoyed the variation of languages of French and Italian with a little bit of English thrown in. The costumes were excilent and the way the actors portrayed the characters during that past time period were done good. One makes you feel sorry for Farinelli because of what he did lack and also makes you feel for him because everybody would make a specticle of him because of his castration and the fact that he could not complete the task of lovemaking (personally..... I do not think that he really needed that, he was good being his own person anyway). Farinelli's popularity had worn down during the middle of his career due to his excessive use of opium in which his brother provided for him in order for him to sleep and get rid of any pain or stress. During the end of the movie we find that it is Riccardo that turned his little brother in because of his ability to sing and thus help his poor familiy. Not much is mentioned of his familiy but in the beginnig of the movie we do know that his family was poor and Farinelli offered himself as well as his voice because his voice was all that he did have in order to stay alive. This movie was a good film and I give it about a 7. There were several parts in the film that were not clearly explained and that was the only flaw.