Making beautiful music together

Last Wednesday, CineVerse enjoyed the cinematic harmonies of "Quartet," a film that explores the joys and fears of a group of aging musicians. The group shared a number of notable observations about this movie, as summarized below:

WHAT IS APPEALING AND INTERSTING ABOUT THIS FILM?

·       It spotlights senior citizen characters in the twilight of their lives and long after their careers have faded, which is a subject that isn’t often covered in movies today; nowadays, most Hollywood films focus on the culture of youth, technology, action/adventure and science fiction and overlook aged and elderly characters to try to tap into a bigger box office.

·       The film doesn’t get too heavy into depressing themes about growing old and frail, except for one character suffering from dementia; these characters maintain their dignity and autonomy, even though it’s clear that the end is somewhere around the corner.

·       The film features a fine cast of veteran and acclaimed British actors, including Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay and Pauline Collins. The actors demonstrate healthy chemistry and fit their parts well.

·       Many of the supporting characters are portrayed by actual musical stars of yesteryear.

·       The four principal actors are not professional singers, but thankfully we don’t have to see them lip-sync their singing in this film; while it’s not their voices we actually hear singing, the director carefully never shows the actors lips moving in song for very long.

·       This is actor Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, interestingly at age 75, an age when he would be a kindred spirit to these characters.

·       The opera and instrumental music is beautiful, timeless and a character unto itself in the movie.

WHAT THEMES ARE EXAMINED IN “QUARTET”?

·       The psychological challenges that can affect artists when their physical abilities start to dwindle.

·       The film asks the question: when does a professional musician actually retire, and what does retirement mean?

·       As actor Billy Connoly says: “Don’t die until you die. Stay interested until the very last second.” In other words, live life to the fullest until you are physically and mentally incapable of doing so. Also, continue to strive for improvement and engagement.

·       The film also explores how growing old doesn’t have to mean surrendering all your interests, passions, pastimes or emotions. Consider how Wilf likes to flirt, and how Reg and Jean used to be lovers and still carry emotional remnants of that breakup with them.

WHAT’S INTERESTING ABOUT THE PERSONALITIES OF THE 4 MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE QUARTET AND HOW THEY COMPARE/CONTRAST WITH EACH OTHER?

·       Reg is a “gentle, regretful soul” who attempts to understand the younger generation.

·       Wilf likes to flirt although he’s less uninhibited due to a recent stroke.

·       Crissy is plagued by the early signs of dementia, although she’s congenial and cheerful and disregards how others think of her.

·       Jean is a temperamental diva who abhors the thought of retirement as well as the idea of performing on stage when she’s past her prime.

THERE HAS BEEN A SLEW OF OTHER RECENT FILMS TACKLING THE TOPIC OF AGING AND SENIOR CITIZEN ISSUES. CAN YOU CITE ANY EXAMPLES?

·       The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

·       Amour

·       Unfinished Song

·       The documentary Young@Heart

·       Nebraska

DOES THIS FILM REMIND YOU OF ANY OTHER MOVIES, TV SHOWS OR WORKS OF LITERATURE?

·       Downton Abbey

·       On Golden Pond

·       About Schmidt

·       A Late Quartet

·       Space Cowboys

·       Films that depict drama and infighting among peers but which end in everyone collaborating to go on with the show, such as Waiting for Guffman, Fame, and The Muppets