A ceremonial opera interweaves the Queen's sorrowful memory of the Magician with surreal actions in Budapest's theater and baths.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Bridge and Throne
The Magician crosses the Chain Bridge while the Queen ascends to the Opera House. She takes her throne as preparations unfold across the theater and baths.
Key Events
Magician Crosses Chain Bridge — The Magician crosses the Chain Bridge as the Queen climbs toward the Opera House. Characters: Diva / Giant / MagicianLocation: Chain Bridge, Budapest
Queen Ascends Opera Stairs — The Queen climbs the Opera House stairs with her two identical escorts. Characters: Queen of Chain, Queen's Usher / Fudor Sprite, Queen's Usher / Fudor SpriteLocation: Budapest Opera House stairs
Queen Takes Her Throne — The Queen sits on the throne while servants arrange Jacobin pigeons around her. Characters: Queen of ChainLocation: Opera House throne room
Pearls Float in the Baths — Pearls float in the pool as a curtain opens onto an empty theater.
Location: Gellért Baths pool
Opera Performance Begins — The conductor signals, and the opera begins before the empty theater. Characters: Queen of ChainLocation: Opera House
Song and Memory
The opera begins, and the Queen sings while the Diva moves around the stage. The Queen's song recalls the chained Magician preparing to leap into the Danube.
Key Events
Diva Appears on Stage — The Diva walks around the proscenium, dropping flower petals onto the stage. Characters: Diva / Giant / MagicianLocation: Opera House stage
Queen Sings a Slow Melody — The Queen sings a slow melody accompanied by a string ensemble. Characters: Queen of ChainLocation: Opera House stage
Queen Remembers the Magician — The Queen recalls the naked, chained Magician preparing to leap into the Danube. Characters: Queen of Chain, Diva / Giant / MagicianLocation: Opera House
Ribbons in the Baths
Pigeons bring ribbons through the throne, while the Giant enters the bath waters among the pearls. Elves dive with ribbons that form a garland attached to the Giant.
Key Events
Ribbons Enter Through Throne — Through a hole in the throne, pigeons enter carrying long colored ribbons. Characters: Queen of ChainLocation: Opera House throne room
Giant Enters the Water — The Giant walks among the pearls in a section of water between the main pools. Characters: Diva / Giant / MagicianLocation: Gellért Baths
Elves Dive into the Pool — A group of elves dives into the water with ribbons resembling those carried by the pigeons.
Location: Gellért Baths pool
Ribbon Garland Forms — The ribbons form a garland attached to the Giant's scrotum. Characters: Diva / Giant / MagicianLocation: Gellért Baths pool
Falls and Ripples
The Queen remembers the Magician's fall and loses consciousness, while the Diva falls at the height of her ascent. A droplet from the Queen's mouth splits in two and sends ripples across the baths.
Key Events
Queen Recalls the Fall — Remembering the Magician's fall into the Danube, the Queen loses consciousness. Characters: Queen of Chain, Diva / Giant / MagicianLocation: Opera House and Danube memory
Diva Falls on Stage — The Diva falls onto the stage upon reaching the highest point of her ascent. Characters: Diva / Giant / MagicianLocation: Opera House stage
Droplet Splits in Water — A drop falls from the Queen's mouth, splits in two, and sends ripples across the water. Characters: Queen of ChainLocation: Gellért Baths
Story Breakdown
Bridge Arrival — The Magician crosses the bridge as the Queen makes her way to the Opera House.
Magician Crosses — The Magician crosses the Chain Bridge in Budapest.
Queen Ascends — The Queen climbs the Opera House stairs with her identical escorts.
Throne Ceremony — The Queen takes her seat as pigeons and servants organize the ceremonial scene.
Queen Takes Seat — The Queen sits on the throne in the throne room.
Pigeons Arranged — Servants arrange Jacobin pigeons around the Queen.
Opera Begins — The empty theater is prepared, and the performance starts under the conductor's signal.
Curtain Opens — A curtain opens onto an empty theater as preparations are complete.
Queen Sings — The Queen sings a slow melody accompanied by a string ensemble.
Diva's Ascent — The Diva performs on stage while the Queen's song carries a memory of the Magician.
Petals Fall — The Diva walks around the proscenium and drops flower petals.
Chained Magician — The Queen remembers the Magician chained and preparing to jump into the Danube.
Ribbons and Pigeons — Pigeons carry colored ribbons through an opening in the throne toward the bath sequence.
Throne Opening — The Queen looks through a hole in the throne toward the baths.
Ribbons Arrive — Pigeons enter carrying long colored ribbons.
Giant in Baths — The Giant moves among pearls as elves dive into the warm water with ribbons.
Pearl Pool — The Giant walks through water between the main pools among pearls.
Elves Dive — Elves dive into the pool carrying ribbons.
Final Falls — The Queen's memory and the Diva's fall lead into the final image of a divided droplet.
Queen Faints — Remembering the Magician's fall into the Danube, the Queen loses consciousness.
Droplet Splits — A drop from the Queen's mouth divides in two and creates ripples on the water.
CREMASTER 5 is a five-act opera (sung in Hungarian) set in late-ninteenth century Budapest. The last film in the series, it represents the moment when the testicles are finally released and sexual differentiation is fully attained. The lamenting tone of the opera suggests that Barney invisions this as a moment of tragedy and loss. The primary character is the Queen of Chain (played by Ursula Andress). Barney, himself, plays three characters who appear in the mind of the Queen: her Diva, Magician, and Giant. The Magician is a stand-in for Harry Houdini, who was born in Budapest in 1874 and appears as a recurring character in the Cremaster cycle.
