Song For Marion - Movie Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

By focussing on the emotional bleakness in this story, writer-director Williams manages to find some interesting moments in a film that otherwise seems contrived to reach fans of heartwarming fare like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Quartet. And while this film sometimes feels like a geriatric episode of Glee, it at least finds authenticity in the characters' emotions, thanks to clever acting and filmmaking.

It opens with an ageing couple: the perpetually cheery Marion (Redgrave) and her relentless grump of a husband Arthur (Stamp). "You know how I feel about enjoying things," he scowls as she chirps about him coming along to cheer for her singing club at an upcoming competition. But Marion has cancer, and she's trying to make sure that he doesn't shut down when she dies, cutting off contact with his single-dad son (Eccleston). Sure enough, he reacts to her death with cruelty and isolation. But Marion's relentlessly upbeat choir leader Elizabeth (Arterton) won't give up on him, and when she discovers that he can sing, she urges him to take Marion's place at the competition.

After the strikingly original thrillers London to Brighton and Cherry Tree Lane, this is not the kind of film we expect from Williams, but if we look closely we can see him constantly undermining expectations. This film isn't quite as heartwarming as it seems, allowing its characters to be rather startlingly awful at times even though the story is punctuated by uplifting sequences. And of course the veteran cast members are excellent. Redgrave is luminous as Marion, holding the film's emotional centre even after her character is gone. And Stamp quietly reveals a hidden tenderness under Arthur's rough exterior.

The side characters have some depth as well. Arterton gets a chance to show Elizabeth's inability to connect with people her age, while Eccleston is excellent in the thankless role of a man so wounded by years of bitterness that he can't give his father even one more chance. These sides of the story are so fascinating that it's annoying every time Williams falls back on the old cliche of having old people sing about sex. Indeed, they even do a rendition of Let's Talk About Sex. They also put on heavy metal regalia to sing The Ace of Spades. Honestly, this kind of simplistic pandering to the audience actually belittles the reality that retirees have artistic gifts that are both relevant and valuable. Although with this kind of approach, Williams does guarantee that there won't be a dry eye in the cinema.

Rich Cline

Facts and Figures

Year: 2012

Genre: Dramas

Run time: 7 mins

In Theaters: Monday 25th February 2013

Production compaines: Steel Mill Pictures, Coolmore Productions, Egoli Tossell Film AG

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 3 / 5

Cast & Crew

Director: Paul Andrew Williams

Producer: Ken Marshall, Philip Moross

Screenwriter: Paul Andrew Williams

Starring: Terence Stamp as Arthur, Vanessa Redgrave as Marion, Gemma Arterton as Elizabeth, Christopher Eccleston as James, Anne Reid as Brenda, Ram John Holder as Charlie, Barry Martin as Timothy, Taru Devani as Sujantha, Orla Hill as Jennifer