If the concept of cancel culture is still a little vague for you, “Tár” by Todd Field is for you! There you will be able to admire the immense Cate Blanchett delivering a performance that would have deserved an Oscar. Now available on Netflix.
In the post MeToo world, where cancel culture increasingly influences society and the world of culture, Tár, directed by Todd Field and carried by a masterful Cate Blanchett, stands out as a powerful work of rare finesse on this delicate subject.
Cate Blanchett brilliantly plays the role of Lydia Tár, a world-renowned conductor. The difficulty of the subject is tackled with force and bite, exposing the personal and professional fallout of cancel culture.
A nuanced portrait of power dynamics
When we meet her at the start of the film, Lydia Tár is at the peak of her career. She is especially respected and feared in the world of classical music. But his empire begins to crumble when the consequences of his past actions resurface.
A former student, apprentice conductor, who worked under the wing of Lydia Tár and who was pushed aside by her has just committed suicide. What pushed the young woman to this tragic gesture? Has Lydia Tár crossed the limits of professional ethics?
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And while she prepares her big project – making a public recording of Gustav Mahler’s 5th symphony for Deutsche Grammophon – she practices favoritism towards a young cellist whom she seeks to seduce, and to the detriment of her own wife. , Sharon (Nina Hoss), who is nevertheless first violin in her orchestra.
This is where the film explores with remarkable depth the intricacies of power dynamics, showing how they can influence and corrupt.
Blanchett’s nuanced performance brilliantly captures the complexity of the subject with the gradual fall that her character experiences, caught in a vice between serious accusations and public judgments. The film presents a fascinating character study that sheds light on the complex mechanisms of cancel culture.
Dazzling production and writing
With Tár, Todd Field doesn’t just paint a black and white picture of events. He chooses instead to plunge the viewer into the gray areas of morality. The film questions professional ethics, personal responsibility and the sometimes destructive effects of media and public judgment.
2022 Focus Features, LLC
The production is meticulous, each shot, each silence loaded with meaning, contributing to build a palpable tension. The scenario, far from giving easy answers, invites the viewer to their own reflection on cancel culture.
A slap
So we’re going to say that Tár is probably the most brilliant film on cancel culture, not only because of its exceptional interpretation and its precise direction, but also because of its mature and thoughtful approach to this complex cultural phenomenon.
Cate Blanchett gives a performance that will undoubtedly remain as one of the most memorable of her career, playing a Lydia Tár who is at once imposing, terrifying and incredibly human. For all its flaws.
Todd Field delivers a film that is not just a portrait of the fall of a personality but a powerful resonance on the themes of authority, power and its loss. Tár is therefore a must-see, a film that stands out for its audacity and its commitment to exploring uncomfortable truths.
Tár is now available on Netflix.
