Directed by Todd Field (In the Bedroom; Little Children) and starring Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine; Elizabeth: The Golden Age; Carol; The Aviator), Noémie Merlant (Portrait of a Lady on Fire; the Innocent; A Good Man), Nina Hoss (The Contractor; The Audition; Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (tv series); Homeland (tv series)) and Sophie Kauer ().
Psychological drama; 158 mins; 12+
The film is about a fictional composer and conductor Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), the first female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and who is widely considered as one of the greatest living composer/conductors in the male-dominated classical music industry.
Cate Blanchett appears in almost every scene and is constants on screen, with substantial dialogue, including starting out with an on-stage interview at The New Yorker Festival where she promotes her book "Tár on Tár" and a live recording of Mahler's Fifth Symphony, a significant challenge. As it is set in thw world of classical music, the script contains many references to artists and works; however, this is by no means a classical music concert - far from it. It is instead a look into the psyche of a driven woman who bends the rules to achieve greatness.
She is supported, as always, by her personal assistant Francesca Lentini (Noémie Merlant). Back at home, she and her wife Sharon Goodnow (Nina Hoss) - a member of the same orchestra - have a young daughter
The film portrays her as a perfectionist of her trade - the concepts of technique and getting inside the mind of the composer are never far from the script. She is someone who has earned the title and respect as "Maestro"; however, she has not got where she is today by being nice - she could be accused of being manipulative, bullying and granting favours (as well as promotions) for attention and (sexual) favours.
She want to replace her assistant conductor Sebastian, and presents him with, basically, an ultimatum; she doesn't raise her voice, she doesn't use overt threats, yet she uses subtlety and veiled threats to get what she wants. When giving classes, she picks on individuals and belittles them, in her mind trying to make them stronger.
When a former cellist dies, she tries to cover up traces of correspondence linking her with the death, and then she starts to fill the vacancy, in the process turning her attention to newcomer Olga Metkina (Sophie Kauer)...
As external forces slowly chip away at her facade, her dirty secrets are revealed, along with the corrosive nature of power. She starts to suffer from insomnia, have disturbing dreams and hear strange noises at night...
Wonderful storytelling with a powerful performance from Cate Blanchett who won Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama at the 80th Golden Globe Awards. At the 95th Academy Awards (Oscars, to be held on 12 March), Tár has received six nominations including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Field, and Best Actress for Blanchett.
Currently being screened in Luxembourg at Kinepolis and CiNextDoor.
