Filmmaker Todd Field wrote the character of Lydia Tárthe brilliant and mercurial teacher of the Berlin Philharmonic who stars in his new film, specifically for 53-year-old actress Cate Blanchett, Oscar winner already twice. Will this role be the third award for her?
The movie tarnamed after the last name of its main character, is set in the world of international classical music and finds its protagonist at the highest point of his careerwho is considered in that narrative one of the greatest living composers/conductors and the first principal conductor of that important German orchestra.
According to specialized critics, Blanchett’s raw and honest performance is already a 2023 awards season favoritehaving received a six-minute standing ovation after its screening at the Venice Film Festival in September 2022.
The music that accompanies her performance was composed by the Grammy winner Hildur Guðnadóttirthe first composer to also win in 2020 a Golden Globe, a Bafta and an Oscar for best soundtrack with the film joker (2019).
The cast includes Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant, Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover, Mark Strong, Allan Corduner and Sylvia Flote. But also, under the Deutsche Grammophon label, the music on the tape was released on a concept album that complements the movie by presenting complete and real versions of the music that the public sees the protagonist Lydia Tár working on.
“Each theme, like the movie, are meant to invite the listener to experience the ‘mess’ that goes into creating music”, assured Field, the director who also acted under the gaze of Stanley Kubrick in 1999 for eyes wide shut.
A transformative experience
To Blanchett, who is fluent in Germanhis participation in the film has marked a before and after in his career, especially for having shared several scenes with the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestramusicians who for the tape become the Berlin Philharmonic.
“I have been truly blessed to have my name appear near this group of incredibly talented musicians,” said the actress, who makes a display of his skill as a pianist for production, since plays the prelude to well-tempered harpsichord of Bach as part of one of his character’s teaching sessions.
“Todd didn’t tell me much. Initially our conversations were intensely practical,” Blanchett recalled during an interview with Playlist. “Why, Before I could even get to the first stage of playing my role, there was a lot of legwork I had to do to be able to play the scenes: the language of music, rekindling my ability to read sheet music. (…) and, of course, getting into the deep and complicated waters of the art of directing. But it is not a film about musical direction. You just have to understand that directing is as natural and essential for Lydia Tár as breathing is. I don’t want to break the spell of what Todd has created by describing that process too much.”
Blanchett is also registered in the official album of the tape and can be heard conducting rehearsals of a Mahler symphony.
“Directors’ personalities often cement their reputations. She is also enigmatic and she is also human. And so it wasn’t about me thinking if she was a good person or a bad person., but I understood her”, she advances about her character. “But I think that the tragic thing is, once she’s in a position of power, as might be the case if any of us stepped close to power, how seductive it becomes and how hard it is not to be changed by it., and furthermore how desperately one may want to cling.”
On Tuesday, August 10, Blanchett has already won the Golden Globe Award for this role. although he could not personally appear at the ceremony to receive it because He was in London on his promotional tour.
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
