Song For Marion
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Terence Stamp, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Eccleston
Director: Paul Andrew Williams
Rating: 4/5
Over the last twelve months we have seen a rise in films that have not been afraid to look at old age and tackle the problems that some along with it - not to mention find the humour with it.
The likes of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Quartet have been both critically and commercially successful and now we are treated to the wonderful Song For Marion.
Grumpy pensioner Arthur (Stamp) who is reluctantly inspired by his beloved wife Marion (Redgrave) to join a highly unconventional local choir.
At odds with his son James (Eccleston), it is left to choir director Elizabeth (Arterton) to try and persuade Arthur that he can learn to embrace life.
Arthur must confront the undercurrents of his own grumbling persona as he embarks on a hilarious, life-affirming journey of musical self discovery.
Song For Marion is a movie with real heart that looks at relationships, love, grief, family friends and the powerful of music.
All of the cast are on top form but the Terence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave both give incredibly strong and moving performances.
Marion is suffering with cancer and find solace in her singing while Arthur is her ’rock’ and the husband who takes care of her.
They have an incredibly tender relationship - they both play it perfectly - and this is a film about love and devotion in the face of losing the person that you love. Only someone with a heart of stone will fail to be moved by their loving moments and Marion’s ultimate death.
Even without the support of Redgrave in the second half of the film Terrence is terrific as he tries to deal with his grief - helped along by Gemma Arterton.
Stamp and Arterton make a great team as she coaxes him back into music and we see Arthur finally start to come out of his shell as he is inspired by his wife.
The relationship between Arthur and his son James, played by Christopher Eccleston, is also another interesting edge to the film. The pair don’t and never have seen eye to eye and their relationship become more strained the sicker Marion becomes.
Eccleston is perfect as the son who has never understood why his father is the way that he is as the pair is forced to face their problems and get to know each other all over again.
But this is not a film that is all doom and gloom as the OAPZ choir provide all of the humour as sing ’Love Shack’ and ’Let’s Talk About Sex’. But the performance where they perform Motorhead is one of the funniest and best moments in the movie.
Song For Marion is a celebration of love, life, family and how we have to accept death and find our way after we lose someone that we love.
This is a charming film that will tug at the heart strings as well as make you laugh. This is a film that is not to be missed this week as it is a little gem.
Sure you do know where this film is ultimately going but you get so caught up in the lives of these people that the predictability really doesn’t matter.
Song For Marion is out now
Tagged in Gemma Arterton Vanessa Redgrave