Tár is a film about classical musicians with a different twist – at least from the perspective of producer-director-writer Todd Field whose last feature was released in 2006. The movie has received several Academy Awards nominations this year including Best Picture (alongside All Quiet on the Western Front and Elvis, among others), Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress (Cate Blanchett who has already won two Oscars). In keeping with tradition, this review is written from a musician’s point of view.
Apparently Field did some heavy duty researching about famous conductors, especially women directors and their foibles, which he infuses into the script using Lydia Tár as the main protagonist of the fictional story - of which Blanchett’s portrayal has a signature professionalism about it. Lydia’s high profile conducting career is infused with master classes at The Juilliard School and artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonic of which a recording of Mahler’s 5th symphony is being produced to complete the composer’s cycle. What adds a touch of class is a score that includes snippets played by the Dresden Philharmonic, Elgar’s cello concerto and even Blanchett herself playing the opening from Bach’s first prelude from book one of The Well-Tempered Clavier.
What seems out of focus is the severe and mannered way in which highly skilled actors are directed to act – such as Lydia’s assistant Francesca (Noemie Merlant), Olga the orchestra’s new, talented cellist (Sophie Kauer) and Sharon (Nina Hoss) Lydia’s partner and orchestra concertmaster whom she lives with in an austerely furnished Berlin apartment devoid of anything heartfelt, except their daughter Petra.
The film focuses on Lydia’s fall from grace due to an overly active ego, promiscuity, workplace transgressions, gossip and infidelity with Sharon – which culminates in an ending that boarders on the ridiculous. If the story also seems to imply that members of the LGBTQ community are perhaps susceptible to these types of incidents then that’s off the mark, too as well as a characterization of European classical musicians behaving like mannequins devoid of emotion before, during and after rehearsals and concert performances. I could count on one hand how many smiles were flashed during the over two and a half hour melodrama. Classical musicians react and engage just like other human beings and there are numerous, humorous stories to back it up.
If there is a silver lining in Tár it is Blanchett’s acting and riveting conducting performance and the fact that the classical music themed movie draws awareness and possible have a look see audiences to this engaging art form. Tár can be viewed in theaters, on DVD and Blu-ray.