Film Review: Celebrating Old Age in Music - Quartet, directed by Dustin Hoffman, 2012

Abstract

Recently older people have been the target of filmmakers and marketing campaigns; the concept of the “grey pound” has become a potentially significant attraction encouraging filmmakers to explore issues relating to age and ageing in mainstream films. The recent success of films such as Mamma Mia and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel have made a significant impact on the box office, and Amour securing the 2013 Palm D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, proved that an older audience is eager to watch films with mature characters and about issues that are relevant and meaningful to them. Actor Dustin Hoffman chose the play, Quartet by Ronald Harwood, to make his directorial debut. Set in “Beecham House,” a residential home for retired musicians, Hoffman explores brilliantly the diversity of octogenarians. The home is under the threat of closure unless the residents raise a substantial amount of money to keep it open, and their cunning plan to do that is by organizing a charitable evening gala featuring the music of Giuseppe Verdi’s famous quartet. The arrival of a new resident, Jean Horton (Maggie Smith), a retired international soprano star, creates tension and rivalry among the residents as well as bringing old romantic memories to the surface. Acknowledging the heterogeneity of the older population, we see a whole range of interesting characters from the flirting old man Wilfred (Billy Connolly), suffering from prostate problems, to the dominant music conductor Cedric (Michael Gambon), to Cissy (Pauline Collins), the insecure forgetful woman. In a series of light-hearted but illuminating scenes, the dynamics of the four main characters who struggle with their respective past personal tragedies and infidelities are displayed. It is clear that these older people are neither angels nor villains, and in spite of their talents and earlier stage success, they are simply human beings afraid of failure and ridicule as anyone else. Where the film excels is in the superb portrayal of the resilience and creativity of old age. However, it does not shy away from depicting reality in its harshness. For these characters, living in a retirement home is not at all like living in a fairy world of music and entertainment as the physical frailty and cognitive decline of ageing inevitably set in. However, Ludwig van Beethoven continued to compose and perform music even after he became totally deaf, and the characters in this film continue to make music and perform in public events even after their musical heydays have long passed away. J Med Humanit (2014) 35:353–354 DOI 10.1007/s10912-014-9296-2