The Real Don Giovanni

As hosted by opera star Sir Thomas Allen, this unusual, offbeat documentary rests on the adage that the key to understanding Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's incessant philandering lies in his seminal 1787 opera +Don Giovanni, and in the main character from that opus, based on the legendary cavaleur Giacomo Casanova. This film finds Allen journeying throughout regions including Northern Bohemia, Vienna and Prague to uncover the historical truth about the real Casanova and his influence on Mozart's work, during his off time from performing the lead in a Czechoslovakian production of +Don Giovanni. The film covers Allen's search and also his stage work, and thus utilizes a combination of documentary footage, performance and dramatization.