La Sonnambula (1948)

Synopsis of La Sonnambula

Set in a Swiss village in the early 1800s, Bellini's La Sonnambula is concerned with intrigues surrounding the engagement of the lovely Amina to the handsome Elvino. All are happy about the engagement, save Lisa, the spurned former lover of Elvino. A stranger, Rodolfo, enters the village. Rodolfo is, in fact, the missing heir to a local Count's estate, but he prefers to keep his identity a secret. Rodolfo is also quite taken with Amina, and the attention he pays to her inspires jealousy in Elvino. With darkness encroaching, the assembled disperse, due to rumors of a phantom that walks the area at night. Lisa follows Rodolfo to his room, having guessed his true identity, and the two engage in mutual flirtation. Their tete a tete is indirectly witnessed by Teresa, Amina's foster mother. Shortly, Amina also enters Rodolfo's room; it is clear that she is sleepwalking, and Rodolfo overcomes temptation by leaving the room, after which Amina returns to her sleeping state. Lisa quickly fetches Elvino, who accepts Amina's presence in another man's room as proof infidelity and breaks off their engagement. Rodolfo tries to clear Amina's name, but his explanation falls on deaf ears, and it appears that Elvino will now marry Lisa. However, Teresa tells Elvino of what she witnessed between Rodolfo and Lisa, and Elvino quickly abandons Lisa as well. Eventually, Amina is witnessed by Elvino, sleepwalking dangerously across a teetering plank bridge. Realizing his error, Elvino reunites with Amina. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

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