Song for Marion UK 2012 – 93min.

Movie Rating

Song for Marion

Valérie Lobsiger
Movie Rating: Valérie Lobsiger

In memory of his wife, a grumpy widower is persuaded to open up by singing.

Although sick with cancer, Marion (Vanessa Redgrave) sings every week in her local choir, directed by the young and dynamic Elizabeth (Gemma Arterton). Arthur (Terence Stamp), her devoted but grumpy husband, takes her there despite his reluctance because he can see it does her good. Despite a relapse that spells her end, Marion decides to participate in a contest Elizabeth has registered the choir for. She dies before her group gets into the finale but just after singing an amazing solo. Will Arthur finally learn to be happy and stop being annoyed by everyone, especially his son, whom he's always spurned?

Paul Andrew's movie is sickly sweet and all the more annoying in how it infantilizes and makes fun of old people (making them youthful at any price, disguised as hip-hoppers and pathetically imitating heavy metal fans...). Is growing old really that much of a curse? A reflection on taking care of oneself would have been so much better with some depth to it. Terence Stamp is admirable for wresting some dignity from this story, much of which is phoned in.

10.11.2020

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