To love another person is to look into the face of God.

[noel711]

3. I've seen the play and concert performances..

the film is unique, and I loved it.. unexpectantly.

It' fleshes out the story that is conveyed thru the music,
and is almost visceral (the book is difficult to get thru:
when I was in undergrad school, I had to write lesson plans
to teach it.. and I didn't get the point of the book at all...)

the performances are stellar but NOT what you'd see on the stage
because it isn't the singing that stars, but the story.

And story itself is quite mystical, about God's grace
and forgiveness, and yet quite politically progressive.

There's a real switcheroo in character focus:
in the play, Jarvet is evil incarnate, and yet has phenomenal
arias..."Stars.." which knocks everyone's socks off.
Russell Crow is not a musical star, but conveys the evil of
demented "law & order" types.
Yet he isn't the focus...

Loved the whole darn thing...
Don't mean to clog up the thread with all my comments.
I can't recommend this film enough..
It's long: don't bring a drink in with you.
And bring lots of kleenex.. its emotionally cathartic.
And the last scene, where the throngs sing
"Can you hear the people sing?" YOu just want to jump up and join in.