“The Phantom of the Opera” (2004), directed by Joel Schumacher, is a musical film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular stage musical, which is itself based on the 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux. Set in 19th-century Paris, the film tells the dramatic and tragic story of a mysterious figure known as the Phantom, who haunts the Paris Opera House, and his obsessive love for Christine Daaรฉ, a young and talented soprano.
The story begins with an auction at the Paris Opera House, where old items from the opera house’s storeroom are being sold. Among the items is a music box and a chandelier, which serves as a flashback to the events that occurred several years earlier. As the chandelier is lifted and crashes to the ground, the film takes the audience back in time to the opera house’s heyday.
The central plot follows Christine Daaรฉ (Emmy Rossum), a young, beautiful, and gifted soprano who has been performing at the Paris Opera House. Christine is a former orphan who was raised by the opera houseโs owner, Monsieur Firmin (Simon Callow), and his business partner Monsieur Andrรฉ (Nigel Davenport). Unbeknownst to most, Christine has been under the influence of the mysterious Phantom of the Opera (Gerard Butler), a disfigured genius who lives in the catacombs beneath the opera house. The Phantom has secretly tutored Christine in music and has developed an intense, obsessive love for her.
Christine, however, is in love with Raoul (Patrick Wilson), a childhood friend who is now a wealthy and handsome patron of the opera. Their reunion sparks a romantic connection, which creates a dangerous love triangle with the Phantom. The Phantom, consumed with jealousy and rage over Christineโs affection for Raoul, becomes more vengeful and controlling, trying to force Christine to be his muse and lover.
Christineโs career takes off when she replaces the prima donna, Carlotta (Mariรกn Aguilera), in a major production of “Don Juan Triumphant”, a new opera written by the Phantom himself. As Christine rises to fame, the Phantomโs obsession deepens. He demands that Christine be given the lead role in all performances, and he threatens to destroy the opera house if his wishes are not met. His manipulation of Christine intensifies, and he uses fear and his control over the opera house to coerce her into obedience.
As Christine grows closer to Raoul, the Phantom becomes increasingly violent and erratic. The Phantom’s emotions explode during a masquerade ball, where he confronts both Christine and Raoul. He kidnaps Christine, bringing her to his underground lair, where he tries to convince her to stay with him. The Phantom reveals his tragic backstory: he was born disfigured, abandoned, and abused, which led him to create his terrifying appearance and live in isolation beneath the opera house.
Raoul, desperate to rescue Christine, follows the Phantom into his lair, where a final confrontation ensues. In the end, Christine shows the Phantom compassion, kissing him and showing that she cares for him despite his monstrous behavior. The Phantom, realizing that Christine will never truly love him, chooses to let her go. He releases Christine and Raoul, disappearing into the shadows of the opera house, leaving behind a single mask as a symbol of his presence.