The Tales of Hoffmann

While he awaits a beautiful ballerina in a tavern, celebrated poet Hoffmann reflects on three women with whom he disastrously fell in love: the automaton Olympia, the courtesan Giulietta, and Antonia, a consumptive opera singer. Each courtship was undermined by a sinister Svengali in various guises. Based on German-born French composer Jacques Offenbach's unfinished fantasy opera. (Criterion)