Story perspectives

Animated “Viva Carmen” Debuts at Cannes, Kids Reimagine Bizet

5/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Sébastien Laudenbach premiered the animated film “Viva Carmen” at the Cannes Film Festival.
The 90-minute film retells Bizet’s 1875 opera “Carmen” from the perspective of Seville street children.
Orphan Salva, voiced by Milo Machado-Graner, leads his gang to stop a blade that would kill Carmen.
Co-writer Santiago Otheguy explores childhood under duress while composers Amine Bouhafa and Isabelle Laudenbach reinterpret Bizet’s arias with pipes and strings.

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Story summary

Sébastien Laudenbach premiered the animated film “Viva Carmen” at the Cannes Film Festival.
The 90-minute film retells Bizet’s 1875 opera “Carmen” from the perspective of Seville street children.
Orphan Salva, voiced by Milo Machado-Graner, leads his gang to stop a blade that would kill Carmen.
Co-writer Santiago Otheguy explores childhood under duress while composers Amine Bouhafa and Isabelle Laudenbach reinterpret Bizet’s arias with pipes and strings.