The Death of Klinghoffer (2003)

The Death of Klinghoffer (2003) poster

An adaptation from the controversial John Adams opera about the true life incident that took place in the mid 80s. The liner "Achille Lauro" is on a 12-day cruise in the Mediterranean. While the ship is docked in Alexandria, a maid discovers that four of the passengers are actually members of the Palestine Liberation Organization traveling incognito. Startled by their discovery, the PLO cadre is forced to act. They take the passengers on board hostage and demand the release of 50 Palestinian activists held in Israeli jails. As Egyptian, American, Italian, and Palestinian authorities bicker over the best way to handle the situation (and who would negotiate with the terrorists), the kidnappers find themselves dealing with rebellion among their captives, and an argument between the four PLO members and Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish-American confined to a wheelchair, eventually escalates into violence.

Director: Penny Woolcock
Genre: Drama, Music
Runtime: 120 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: John Adams
Cinematography: Graham Smith
Editing: Brand Thumim
Production: Channel 4 Television, Blast! Films
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Original Language: en

Themes

Opera Grandeur and Dramatic Voices, Opera Stage and Dramatic Arias, Classical Music and Art

Keywords

opera, woman director

Trailer

The Death of Klinghoffer Trailer
More Films by Director: Penny Woolcock
More Films in Genre: Drama, Music

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Death of Klinghoffer about?
An adaptation from the controversial John Adams opera about the true life incident that took place in the mid 80s. The liner "Achille Lauro" is on a 12-day cruise in the Mediterranean. While the ship is docked in Alexandria, a maid discovers that four of the passengers are actually members of the Palestine Liberation Organization traveling incognito. Startled by their discovery, the PLO cadre is forced to act. They take the passengers on board hostage and demand the release of 50 Palestinian activists held in Israeli jails. As Egyptian, American, Italian, and Palestinian authorities bicker over the best way to handle the situation (and who would negotiate with the terrorists), the kidnappers find themselves dealing with rebellion among their captives, and an argument between the four PLO members and Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish-American confined to a wheelchair, eventually escalates into violence.
Who directed The Death of Klinghoffer?
The Death of Klinghoffer was directed by Penny Woolcock.
Who stars in The Death of Klinghoffer?
The Death of Klinghoffer stars Sanford Sylvan, Yvonne Howard, Christopher Maltman, Tom Randle, Kamel Boutros, Leigh Melrose.
How long is The Death of Klinghoffer?
The Death of Klinghoffer has a runtime of 2h 0m (120 minutes).
What genre is The Death of Klinghoffer?
The Death of Klinghoffer is a Drama, Music film.
Where was The Death of Klinghoffer produced?
The Death of Klinghoffer was produced in United Kingdom.
What are the themes of The Death of Klinghoffer?
The themes of The Death of Klinghoffer include: Opera Grandeur and Dramatic Voices, Opera Stage and Dramatic Arias, Classical Music and Art.