105mins
Director: Yaron Zilberman
Writers: Yaron Zilberman, Seth Grossman
Cast: Catherine Keener, Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mark Ivanir.
Plot
The harmony
of an orchestral quartets working and personal relationships are put under
threat when one of it's members is diagnosed with a serious illness.
Review
A
thoughtful film about ageing and coming to accept the choices made in love and
career. The quartet’s problems are very adult and mature and handled with
sensitivity. Peter (Walken) has to deal with the possible end of his career and
face a long and lonely retirement. The shock of his announcement reverberates
through the rest of quartet and threatens their 25 years together.
Gelbert (Hoffman) wants a chance at playing 1st
violin (he’s currently 2nd violin a position which enhances the
first, but does not take the kudos). But
when his wife (Keener the quartets’ viola player) fails to back his bid and
Lerner (Ivanir) refuses to relinquish the post of first, Gelbert takes it as a
personal slight on his talent, and sets out on a path that could break the
quartet and destroy his marriage.
Quiet perfectionist Lerner laments his years
of dedication which has cost him a personal life and Juliette questions her
role as a mother and wife to Gelbert.
It’s all
filmed in a New York bitter winter, snow on the streets and breath in the air
reflecting the bitterness built up in their lives, they seem almost emotionally stuck in
the snow.
The
performances are as quality and subtle as you would expect, lovely to watch and
emotionally delicate.
4 out of 5
stars.
