Bettleroper (1991): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 1991, Bettleroper is a komödie, drama and fernsehfilm film directed by Jiří Menzel, running about 94 minutes.

What it’s about. Unlike any other opera, the so-called Beggar's Opera is not just one composition, but a lineage of adapted compositions, beginning with the original hugely successful 1728 political satire written by Englishman John Gay. Composers and writers have penned variations on it ever since. The most famous of these was A Threepenny Opera by Bertholt Brecht and Kurt Weill. Some things these compositions share in common is their setting among the poor and criminal classes, and the roguish character Macheath. This production is based on an adaptation of Gay's original by Vaclav Havel the freedom-fighter, writer and philosopher who became the first (and only) president of the united post-communist country of Czechoslovakia, and it retains many traces of its theatrical origins. Film reviewers were not too tolerant of what they called "slavish adherence" to the noted Czech writer's stage production, but theater, philosophy and history buffs may feel otherwise.

Who’s in it. Bettleroper stars Josef Abrhám as Macheath, Mahulena Bočanová as Vicky, Jana Břežková as Mary Lockit and Petr Brukner, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Bettleroper has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Bettleroper page.

If you liked it. Fans of Bettleroper tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Das Leben ist schön and Fight Club.