QURESHI: What I thought was that I don't know what to think about it, and that's exactly what I love about it, actually. It puts the audience to think and do their own thinking and moral judgments and stuff, which is refreshing because, you know, there are such few filmmakers who actually trust their audience.ĬHOUDHURY: So that's my favorite thing about 'Tar,' and I'm sure - and there are many, many more things which I'm sure we'll unravel through the conversation. It doesn't fall into the traps you think it would fall into, given the reviews around it. But what I appreciated the most is that it's not an easy film. Bedatri, what did you think of 'Tar'?ĬHOUDHURY: There's so much to unpack. She won the Oscar for best score in 2020 for 'Joker.' It's in limited release now and will be in wide release on October 28th. The film's spare yet evocative score is by Icelandic composer Hildur Gudnadottir. His previous films 'In The Bedroom' and 'Little Children' were both highly praised as dark, intimate portraits of complicated relationships. It's the first movie from writer-director Todd Field in 16 years. When Lydia takes under her wing Olga, a young Russian cellist played by real-life cellist Sophie Kauer, secrets of Lydia's past start to spill into her present.īlanchett relearned to play the piano and learned how to conduct for the film. Noemie Merlant plays Lydia's assistant, Francesca, who tends to her every whim. She lives in Berlin with her partner and first violinist Sharon, played by Nina Hoss.

Considered one of the world's greatest living conductors, she's a protege of Leonard Bernstein who's about to perform and record Gustav Mahler's Fifth Symphony and publish her memoir.

Her current gig is leading the Berlin Philharmonic. Cate Blanchett plays Lydia Tar, a hugely successful female composer and conductor in a male-dominated industry. 'Tar' is set in and around the world of classical music. Let's - this is a chewy movie, so let's get into it. Hey, Bedatri.īEDATRI D CHOUDHURY: Hi, Glen. WELDON: And also here is film critic and culture journalist Bedatri D. Joining me today is NPR senior editor Bilal Qureshi. And today we're talking about 'Tar' on POP CULTURE HAPPY HOUR from NPR.

Intelligent and charismatic and supremely confident, she's been able to orchestrate her own life and those of the people around her for years. WELDON: The fantastic new film 'Tar' stars Cate Blanchett as a world-famous composer and conductor. A warning - this episode contains discussion of sexual assault.

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