Please don’t miss Quartet, the first directing credit for Dustin Hoffman and featuring a superb cast of septuagenarian acting legends and former musicians.
Quartet (Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly, Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins) – If you saw Amour, the depressing look at the deterioration of an aging musician … QUICK, see Quartet. This magnificent independent film, directed by none other than 75-year-old Dustin Hoffman in what is ostensibly his directorial debut (although he is rumored to have directed himself in Straight Time), is a lovely story about retired musicians living in a beautiful retirement facility in the English countryside. All of the residents were well known in their respective disciplines and still practice their crafts albeit just for each other and the occasional fundraiser to keep the home in business.
Based on Oscar winner Robert Harwood’s (The Pianist) stage play that he adapted for this film, Quartet is musically sensational and dramatically sensitive. The cast includes many actual musical legends of British stage, television, and other venues. But the stars of the film are veteran screen actors Maggie Smith (two Academy Awards and six total nominations), Tom Courtenay (twice nominated, including for Harwood’s The Dresser), Michael Gambon, comedian Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins.
These actors, all over 70 years old, have plenty of talent left, and it is all on full display here. The chemistry among them feels genuine.
Everyone in the home is starting to fail, as older people do. But they are all upbeat, still in love with the music that enriched their lives. In fact, they live for the music and the family they have inherited. One day, a new resident arrives. The place is abuzz. It turns out to be one of opera’s great divas, Jean Horton (Smith), who retired from the stage years ago and who hasn’t sung in years. Everyone takes the news enthusiastically except Reginald Paget (Courtenay), whose heart she broke many years before. He ages in front of our eyes, the love dripping from his pores. Hoping he will live out his life in seclusion, Reggie is confronted with the love of his life, and he is not sure he is up to it. When Reggie and Jean reunite, the magic is rekindled. But both are proud … and full of regret. Had this been the only story line, the film would have had nowhere to go.
Instead, Harwood focuses the story on the annual fundraiser held on the birthday of Verdi. The home is running short on money, and this year’s show needs a blockbuster. Might Paget, Wilf Bond (Connolly) and Cissy Robson (Collins) convince Horton to reunite and perform the quartet from Verdi’s Rigoletto as they did years ago? While the decision seems clear, the road isn’t.
Quartet is two love stories (one of people, one of music). Beautifully filmed and skillfully directed, this movie deserves a wide audience. But alas, the audience skews to the elderly. Julie and I were among the youngest 5 percent of the audience. Too bad. Quartet is a joy that no one should miss.