Set in current-day New York, this filmed opera reimagines La bohème by glorifying rooftops, mattresses, and the grungy, sexy, dirty world of being in your early twenties in the city that never sleeps. This work focuses specifically on Asian, Asian-American, and BIPOC youth and their experiences, creating a poignant subplot of immigration, assimilation, and racism.

This film embraces the current pandemic as an opportunity to set Mimì’s illness and poverty in a context that is relatable and timely. It also notes the prejudice surrounding Asians and Asian Americans as a result of this global crisis. Visually, it was shot in real locations but romanticized with animation. The story will transport you from apartments and lofts to the beautiful dreams and imaginations of the characters with animated metaphors that work to enact Puccini’s theatrics symbolically. This La bohème defies stereotypes, subverts tropes, and boasts a diverse cast while leaning on America’s greatest Asian singers.

La bohème: A film by Laine Rettmer is a co-production of More Than Musical, Opera Columbus, Opera Omaha, and Tri-Cities Opera.