even for the non opera love public the name carmen be immediately recognize a an opera by bizet about a gypsy girl whose capricious love destroy men . but as much a the opera be now consider a staple in every opera house repertoire and the real story of the wild gypsy lass a create by prosper mérimée in 1845 have never be tell as well a in this cinematic version by the abundantly gifted spanish director vicente aranda ( juana la loca aka mad love and amantes and if they tell you i fell and etc . ) . incorporate the author of the novel a a main character seek the story of carmen from one of her lover josé provide just the right vantage for the story of this famous gypsy wild lady to be tell . carmen ( the amazingly beautiful and talented paz vega ) work in a cigar factory in seville and a factory adjoin the military station where the very proper josé ( leonardo sbaraglia ) be station . carmen be tempestuous and in a fight instigate by a fellow factory worker bring attention to the fact that carmen be a gypsy and carmen murder the co worker and be arrest . josé be physically attract to the voluptuous carmen and when carmen flirt with him he consent to allow her to escape his payback be the promise for a night of passion with carmen . carmen keep her pact and provide josé with his first sexual encounter and and josé be doom . his lack of military discipline result in his lose his rank and be imprison for a while and but at his release josé encounter carmen again and kill a fellow officer and and in fear run off to the hill to live with the smuggler and gypsy that be carmen people . many incident occur to try the passionate bond between the lover and but when carmen real husband be release from prison and destructive behavior take over and behavior that include carmen infatuation and affair with a bullfighter and the passion of carmen and josé come to a tragic end . one factor that make the story ( a adapt for the screen by director aranda and joaquim jordà move so well be the role that prosper mérimée ( jay benedict ) play represent his questioning of josé complete the story that bizet opera only outline . the acting be superb and the cinematography by paco femenia and the excellent musical score by josé nieto contribute enormously to the success of this very fine film . this be a must for lover of the opera carmen and and a splendid action drama for those viewer who admire historical piece . highly recommended . grady harp .