There are those who love it and those who hate it. Bohemian Rhapsody made surely an impact. It’s a 2018 biographical film about the life and career of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the rock band Queen. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $900 million worldwide.
While the film is generally accurate in its depiction of Mercury’s life and career, there are a few notable differences between the film and reality.
The Timeline
One of the biggest differences between the film and reality is the timeline of events. The film compresses many events into a shorter period of time. For example, the film shows Queen performing at Live Aid in 1985, just two years after Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS. In reality, Mercury was not diagnosed with AIDS until 1987, and Queen did not perform at Live Aid until 1985.
Mercury’s Relationships
The film also takes some liberties with Mercury’s personal life. For example, the film shows Mercury meeting his future partner, Jim Hutton, at a hedonistic party hosted by Mercury. In reality, Hutton and Mercury met at a nightclub in 1980.
The film also depicts Mercury’s relationship with his bandmates as being more contentious than it was in reality. In the film, Mercury quits the band after being persuaded by his manager, Paul Prenter, that he can be a successful solo artist. In reality, Mercury and his bandmates remained close friends throughout his life.
Freddy’s Illness
The film also handles Mercury’s illness with some sensitivity. The film shows Mercury telling his bandmates about his AIDS diagnosis during rehearsals for Live Aid. In reality, Mercury did not tell his bandmates about his diagnosis until 1989.
The film also shows Mercury performing at Live Aid despite being very sick. In reality, Mercury was very ill at the time of Live Aid, but he was determined to perform one last time for his fans.
Too Many Differences?
Bohemian Rhapsody is a well-made and entertaining film, but it is important to remember that it is a dramatization of Mercury’s life. The film takes some liberties with the facts, but it still captures the essence of Mercury’s life and career.
Here are some additional differences between the film and reality:
- In the film, Mercury is shown as being very secretive about his sexuality. In reality, Mercury was more open about his sexuality than the film portrays him to be.
- The film shows Mercury’s manager, Paul Prenter, as being a very negative influence on Mercury’s life. In reality, Prenter was a successful manager who helped Queen achieve early success. However, he was also a manipulative and dishonest person who eventually fell out with Mercury.
- The film shows Mercury’s bandmates as being very supportive of him during his illness. In reality, some of Mercury’s bandmates were initially hesitant to continue touring with him after he was diagnosed with AIDS. However, they eventually came to terms with his diagnosis and supported him through his illness.
BBC made a very nice documentary, titled “Days of Our Lives“, with deep dive into the story of the British rock band.
Overall, Bohemian Rhapsody is a well-made film that provides a good overview of Freddie Mercury’s life and career. However, it is important to remember that it is a dramatization, and it takes some liberties with the facts.
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