According to The Hollywood Reporter, this past weekend at the renowned New York Film Critics Circle, Tár, a gripping psychological drama film written, directed, and produced by Todd Field, won the coveted Best Film award for his work. Not only that, but Cate Blanchett took home Best Actress for her lead role in the film, adding yet another accolade to her already stellar acting career.
The film, which released to the world on Oct. 7, also includes supporting stars like French actress Noemie Merlant, Nina Hoss (Homeland), Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover (Harry Potter), Allan Corduner, and increasingly familiar face Mark Strong (Shazam!).
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The Rise and Fall of a World-Famous Conductor
Focus Features
Tár is the riveting story of an accomplished German composer and conductor named Lydia Tár, known as one of the greatest conductors alive anywhere in the world. She is also the first-ever female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, considered one of the world’s most revered and acclaimed orchestras. With such an enviable career that few can only dream of, along with a guest teacher role at the exclusive Julliard School, and the impending release of a memoir detailing her life’s work, she strong-arms her way through a traditionally male-dominated industry with everything at her disposal, no matter the cost, to others or herself.
Interwoven with her path of sterling success is a trail rife with inner turmoils, narcissism, manipulation, lies, and deceit. She continually “conducts” those around her to suit her needs, for better or worse, leading to tragic falling outs among her colleagues, her loyal personal assistant Francesca, her students, and her sickly wife, Sharon, played impeccably by Nina Hoss. Ultimately, her career steadily falls to pieces, leading to her forced removal as a conductor and a retreat into obscurity. After a short and awkward reunion with her family on Staten Island, the end of the film finds Lydia attempting to resurrect herself, albeit as a conductor of smaller orchestras in Southeast Asia and for, of all things, a videogame score.
So far, Tár has received near-universal acclaim among both critics and audiences. Along with Todd Field’s great accomplishment, the film is already being considered one of Cate Blanchett’s greatest played roles to date, with her having already won several awards for this character portrayal, including Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival. Such a line-up of honors could pave the way for potential Oscar buzz as well.
