"Paulo J.P-Braga" <[log in to unmask]> mentioned, in referring to
Syberberg's film of Parsifal,

>I would select the a capella choir while knights gather together, each
>one bearing an Occidental militaristic symbol, ancient and modern, among
>them the swastika ...

I am not being flippant or facetious but I was always under the impression
that these "other" symbols (displayed on banners as the knights enter the
temple) represented some of Germany's major football teams?

I saw this film at a private pre-view showing in Paris made to Erato's
world agents (of which I was one, at the time when they were an independent
label) and Syberberg was in the audience.  Nobody dared to leave, of
course, and some were bored rigid, but at the end we learnt that Syberberg
himself had slipped away at the end of the 2nd Act!  Happily none of us
found ourselves introduced to him and thus having to comment about the
film.  The film is noted, however, for an outstanding performance by
Robert Lloyd and also Yvonne Minton.

The film is worth seeing once, maybe twice, but otherwise it is an
irritating aberration like some of the work of the younger Peter Sellars.
(For those who have not had the pleasure it contains the extraordinary
sight of Parsifal, upon kissing Kundry, turning into a young girl.  Whilst
Reiner Goldberg's voice continues singing, the girl mouths the words - to
absurd effect, it must be said!).

John G. Deacon   http://www.ctv.es/USERS/j.deacon