Carmen (1987)

Don José, a northerner of respectable family, was studying for the priesthood when, during a brawl, he killed a cardsharp. He fled south and joined the army. His mother and Micaela, an orphan girl whom she wishes her son to marry, have followed him and set up house in a village not far from Seville. José is seduced by a gypsy, Carmen, whom he allows to escape from military arrest. He is imprisoned and demoted. On his release he discovers that Zuniga, his superior officer, has become his rival; he attacks him and has no option but to join a criminal gang of smugglers if he is to remain with Carmen.

As Carmen’s one desire in life is to be free, emotionally and physically, their relationship is soon destroyed by José’s obsessive jealousy. When he leaves her to go to his mother’s deathbed, Carmen takes up with the bullfighter, Escamillo. José finds her again and kills her.

A square in Seville
Micaela comes to look for José among the soldiers. She resists the advances of Morales and the others and leaves. With the new guard come Don José and Lieutenant Zuniga, a newcomer to Seville who clearly has an eye for the ladies. He soon learns about José’s past and that of the women who work in the cigarette factory who now come into the square for a break; among them is Carmen, the focus of the hungry glances of Zuniga and all the other men — except José. Carmen chooses to ignore them all, but José’s apparent disinterest piques her and on the way back to work she tosses a flower at him. This gesture impresses him more than he would like, especially when he finds that the flower has a bewitching perfume. Micaela at last finds José and brings him a letter from his mother — with a kiss. Although Carmen has profoundly disturbed him, he resolves to follow his mother’s advice and marry Micaela.

An uproar breaks out in the factory and José is sent to investigate. Carmen has attacked another woman with a knife; she refuses to answer Zuniga’s questions and he orders José to take her to jail. While they wait for Zuniga to return with the warrant, Carmen seduces José and he agrees to let her escape. They will meet later at the tavern of Lillas Pastia.

At Lillas Pastia’s tavern outside the city walls. It is night.
José has been arrested, demoted and sent to jail. Today he has been released. Carmen learns all this from Zuniga, whom the girls are entertaining along with other soldiers. Lillas Pastia is anxious to close for the night as the smugglers have a rendezvous in his tavern. He is temporarily frustrated by the arrival of Escamillo, the bullfighter, whom Zuniga asks in for a drink. Escamillo flirts with Carmen but is firmly rebuffed. Zuniga’s request for a rendezvous also falls on deaf ears but he is determined to come back for her later that night, after the curfew. As soon as all but Carmen, Mercedes and Frasquita have left, Lillas Pastia admits the smugglers, Dancairo and his lieutenant, Remendado. They try to recruit the girls for a smuggling operation on the border of Gibraltar but, once again, Carmen is not available. They cannot believe her when she says she has fallen in love and is waiting for her soldier: Carmen never falls in love.

José arrives, although he knows he only has a short time before roll call. Carmen is determined to entertain him but José cannot risk further trouble by ignoring the trumpet which calls him back to barracks. Carmen mocks him and accuses him of being a coward and insincere. He refutes these accusations and tells her that he has kept her flower close to his heart all the time he was in prison. Carmen is convinced, even fascinated by his show of passion, but they are interrupted by the return of Zuniga who forces his way into the tavern. José jealously attacks his senior officer and against his better judgment agrees to join the smugglers and so ruins all hope of an army career.

A pass in the mountains near the border of Gibraltar.
Inevitably Carmen’s and José’s relationship, so unsatisfactorily begun, has broken down. She cannot bear José’s possessiveness and has already begun to look for ways out of the affair. Dancairo and the other men go to scout their prospects at the border while Frasquita and Mercedes humorously try to discover their marital prospects in the cards. Carmen finds only death — first for her, then for José.

Dancairo sends the girls ahead to decoy some customs guards at the border and José is left to guard their goods. Micaela and Escamillo both come upon the deserted camp, seeking José and Carmen respectively. Micaela hides as José confronts Escamillo. When José discovers the reason for the bullfighter’s presence, he attacks him; Carmen returns just in time to prevent bloodshed. Escamillo thanks her with an invitation to his next bullfight and implies much more. Micaela is discovered and begs José to return with her to his mother who is dying. He reluctantly agrees.

Scene Two
The bullfight in Seville. While Escamillo prepares himself in his quarters, he and Carmen swear love to each other. Carmen has gratefully seized this glamorous opportunity as a way out of her problem. She ignores the warnings of her friends and is determined to face José when he appears, whatever the outcome. He demands, then beseeches her to return to him. She is unmoved by his passionate assurances and his threats; whatever the cost, she is determined to remain free, even if it means her death.

Seeing the excitement and worship of the crowd for Escamillo and his victory reflected in Carmen’s face, José gives her her wish and kills her.