A world renowned opera singer (Julianne Moore) is performing at a swanky birthday party for industrialist Katsumi Hosokawa (Ken Watanabe) when all hell breaks loose in the trailer for “Bel Canto,” the long-gestating film adaptation of Ann Patchett’s bestseller. The party, hosted by an embassy in an unnamed South American nation, is interrupted by armed rebels. They take the party attendees, including Moore’s Roxanne Coss, hostage to secure the release of political prisoners.

“It is up to the government,” the guerrilla group’s leader Comandante Benjamin (Tenoch Huerta), says. “If there is blood, it will be on their hands.”

Needless to say, it’s a terrifying situation. Since Roxanne is the most famous — and therefore most valuable — hostage, the rebels use her safety as a bargaining chip. Benjamin even enlists Roxanne to use her voice to inspire the government to peacefully trade the political prisoners for the hostages. “When they hear the beauty of your voice, perhaps they will find a solution,” he bargains. “I want you sing loudly enough that these animals outside can hear it.”

Published in 2001, the novel “Bel Canto” was based in part on the 1996-1997 hostage crisis in Lima, Peru. It won many honors including the Orange Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.

The film features the vocals of Grammy-winning soprano Renée Fleming. María Mercedes Coroy, Sebastian Koch, Christopher Lambert, and Ryo Kase co-star.

Moore won an Oscar in 2015 for Alzheimer’s drama “Still Alice.” She’s signed on to portray Gloria Steinem in a Julie Taymor’s film adaptation of the feminist icon’s memoir “My Life on the Road.” Moore’s other upcoming projects include English-language remakes of Susanne Bier’s “After the Wedding” and Sebastian Lelio’s “Gloria.”

“Bel Canto” hits theaters September 14 and will be available on VOD September 21. Check out the trailer to see a glimpse of the side story romance between Roxanne and Katsumi.