A Song for Martin
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Movie Reviews of A Song for Martin
Movie Review: A song for Martin
Summary: 5 Stars
A most sensative and compelling account of life and alzeimers. A must for people to understand the difficulties associated with this incideous disease. The movie whilst moving quickly through the various stages of dementia has given a real depth to the subject. A brilliant performance by both leading actors. The subtitles were in no way a distraction from the movie.First saw the movie on television and believe it should be shown in prime time TV.Movie Review: A love story.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one my favorite movies. It tells the story of love. This love is found later in life. It is honest and sincere. What I like about this movie is that unlike most movies that focus on new love with the young and their troubles, this portrays seasoned adults in love and their troubles. This movie shows that you can find true love at any age.Movie Review: Powerful, Honest, Almost Too Real . . .and A Love Story?
Summary: 4 Stars
It's easy to imagine how this film would be "tamed" in an American remake; the lovers would NOT be in their 50's, they would NOT be classical musicians; the illness that takes over their lives would NOT be irreversible and it would NOT be shown in such breadth. If you've ever known someone who has wound up as a full-time caregiver - or have been there yourself - this is a VERY harrowing film and maybe TOO chock-full of reality. At first the film looks like it's going to be pretty glamorous; a well-known composer/conductor and a violinist - both with grown familes -have an affair. They chose to end their marriages, marry each other and set off happily as a musical team. Now, the DVD info hints that some sort of crisis will test their love, so when the composer has a sort of "episode" while shaving, I thought, "Ahah! Some sort of stroke thing and she will fight for her man and their love will save the day, wisdom will be gained and Life Lessons learned." Wrong. We're in Bergman territory here and the diagnosis is distressingly bad news and there will NOT be a recovery. And this news comes early in the film! What follows is a quiet depiction of a man slowly fading into himself and a woman who does everything possible to hold onto him for as long as she can, uncomplainingly and almost matter-of-factly, and to just "be there" for him. This is a love story, if you can believe that, and without gushy, weepy scenes or many outwardly spectacular displays. It's not a depressing film because the tragedy is so "conversational" and always held in check. You never say while watching this, "Man, how does she put up with it?" because, without a single Big Deal Speech, you see that love/devotion/whatever is SUPPOSED to work like this. Imagine a "Rainman" remake by Ingmar Bergman and you'll get the idea. There's a nonchalant nobility to the lead actress's actions. The film spends little time in hospitals and the lead actors are amazing. This film is not a slow descent into Hell; it's more of a slow stroll through a situation that seems unsurvivable and yet is survived. Incredible film, but not for the fainthearted. Still, I now have a clearer idea of why a person wouldn't just hand an incurable/terminal person over to the doctors and how "coping" works out here in the real world.This film - subtitled and with director's commentary - has been released on DVD with the title "A Song for Martin."
Movie Review: Love story . . .
Summary: 4 Stars
Danish film director Bille August describes this film as a love story, although viewers are more likely to see it as a portrayal of the terrible toll of Alzheimer's disease on a spouse who is a survivor and caregiver. The Martin of the title (Sven Wollter) is a world-class composer and orchestra conductor, who is cut down by AD in the midst of an important project, the composition of a new opera. Also cut down are the expectations of the concertmaster violinist who has left her husband to become his second wife. Barbara (Viveka Seldahl), their idyllic love affair and Mediterranean honeymoon still fresh in her own memory, is left to struggle with his growing affliction, a daunting task that finds her emotionally abandoned as he retreats into a dark world of loss and confusion.
The impact on her is one of exhaustion, humiliation, and desperation, and we watch as the love that has bound her to him becomes the reserve of strength she must draw on, and she looks after him until she is finally unable do so. It is unfortunate perhaps that they have both left what seem to be happy families, with grown children, to start a second life together, because what happens to them becomes a kind of judgment for wanting a fuller and more rewarding life. The film's message is that despite adversity as extreme as this, deeply felt love still triumphs in some way, but it's hardly a way we're used to seeing in the movies. The DVD includes a director's commentary, in which August talks chiefly about the plot and character and very little about the making of the film itself.
Movie Review: How to Survive with Dignity
Summary: 4 Stars
Altzheimers...whew, this is an accurate depiction of succumbing to its debilitating grip over mental and physical processes. In fact, I suspect that this film will become the definitive take on the subject, short of actual documentation; the acting from the leads is utterly compelling, achingly accurate(from my experiences of those afflicted with the disease). Its a downhill roll with little or no reprieve, though through the eyes of a supremely loving spouse, we feel that the diseases lessons are intolerably awkward to accept. I gasped for air myself when, still clinging to memories and the restitution of happier times, our heroine escorts Martin to their honeymoon beachside, only to have him nearly drown her. Moments of humour both light and dark are conveyed with great attention to detail and timing, a testament to the team who put this work together.