gradyharp

James Morcan has successfully transformed his novel ANNO 2020 into a visual exploration of that moment in history - the year 2020 - when Covid19 disrupted our lives. Spanning multiple continents and cities, this lucid insight into how we all struggled to make sense of lock downs, wearing mask, confining our communication to cell phones, facetime, and streaming is brought to life through a sensitive interplay of characters of all types, searching for meaning, physical needs, and questions about life that suddenly became of paramount significance and importance. Not only is the well written, acted, photographed and directed, but it also proves to be a viable memory stone for that challenging year.

For those who treasure the impact of WEST SIDE STORY as a symphonic theatrical work as opposed to the 'adaptation' of the current version for film, this recording session delivers. The 'drama' of the Jerome Robbins choreography on the stage is replaced by Bernstein's interaction with the singers and the studio staff, allowing the viewer to understand the composer's original concept - a rare moment of insight into one of the most successful musical works introduced on Broadway in1957.

The performances by Kiri Te Kanawa, as Maria, José Carreras as Tony, and Tatiana Troyanos as Anita are operatic in nature and it is so rewarding to hear gifted singers so competent in interpreting the musical lines. There are moments of conflict between Bernstein and the participants, added notes of verbal commentary from the vocalists, and some soaringly beautiful orchestral nuances. This is an opportunity to hear this magical work the way Bernstein conceived it. Recommended.

Actor/writer/director Harry Macqueen is gifted: the young writer and director of this astonishingly fine, sensitive film SUPERNOVA establishes him as a major artist, sharing a film that quietly addresses aging, advancing dementia, and the interaction of those factors on the enduring love between two artists, together for twenty years.

The story unfolds quietly and slowly; the first suggestion of the pairing is an opening view of the couple lying in bed asleep. As they awaken their story begins: Tusker (Stanley Tucci) is a writer whose career is deterred with the progressive dementia that accompanies his fatal illness, and Sam (Colin Firth) is a pianist whose performing career is at a standstill. The couple initiates a trip in their campervan with their dog to visit friends and family, gradually sharing the impact of Tusker's failing mind on their relationship. During their visit to Sam's family, Tusker joins his young goddaughter on the lawn, gazing at the sky and the source of the film's title is defined: supernova - a powerful and luminous stellar explosion when a star has reached the end of its life - is Tusker's way of sharing the universality of us all, tenderly. On the journey Sam discovers a box that contains Tusker's unfinished latest novel - and a letter - and that discovered secret provides one of the most genuinely sensitive cores for understanding the degree of love between the two men.

Every aspect of this film enhances its beauty - the cinematography by Dick Pope, the musical score by Keaton Henson emphasizing a duet between a string bass and a cello and the piano performance of Elgar's Salut d'Amour actually performed by Colin Firth, the superbly subtle acting by Tucci and Firth, and the direction and screenplay by Macqueen. This is a radiant, quietly perfect paean to love and coping with dementia. Very highly recommended.