Turandot Franco Zeffirelli Marco Armiliato

In legendary China, the beautiful but ruthless Princess Turandot has sworn to marry only the suitor who can solve three riddles; those who fail face execution. Prince Calaf, an exiled warrior, arrives in the city and becomes entranced by Turandot's beauty despite her deadly reputation. He accepts the challenge, driven by passion and pride. As he prepares to face the riddles, he encounters Liu, a slave girl who loves him devotedly, and his father the King of Tartary, now blind and broken. Calaf successfully answers all three riddles, stunning the court and winning Turandot's hand. Yet the princess refuses to accept her fate, and Calaf, moved by her distress, offers her a counter-riddle: if she can discover his name by dawn, he will forfeit his life. Through the night, Turandot tortures those around Calaf to extract his identity, leading to Liu's tragic death. Ultimately, Calaf reveals his name to Turandot, surrendering himself completely. In a final transformation, the princess discovers that love can melt even the coldest heart.