Oct. 07, 2022|USA|158 Min.|R
Genre: 4K-2160p;Drama;Music
Description: Lydia Tár is celebrated as one of the most accomplished composer-conductors of her time, breaking barriers as the first female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. During an interview at The New Yorker Festival with Adam Gopnik, she highlights her latest endeavors, particularly her upcoming live recording of Mahler’s 5th Symphony. Lydia depends on her dedicated assistant, Francesca, and Sharon, her wife and concertmaster, who battles health issues. She discusses her plans with Eliot Kaplan, a conductor and manager of her fellowship program for aspiring women conductors, aiming to replace her assistant conductor, Sebastian, with Francesca and fill an open cello position in the orchestra.
In a guest lecture at Juilliard, Lydia challenges a student’s disinterest in conducting classical works due to identity politics, urging the class to focus on the music’s essence rather than superficial differences. The student, offended, leaves abruptly. Later, in Berlin, Lydia receives a novel, *Challenge* by Vita Sackville-West, sent by Krista Taylor, a former participant in her fellowship program. Subtle hints, including dream sequences and email exchanges, suggest Lydia had a manipulative, transactional relationship with Krista, which later ended badly. Lydia attempts to sabotage Krista’s career by urging Francesca and others to ignore or delete any correspondence related to her.
During auditions for a new cellist, Lydia encounters Olga, a Russian candidate, in the bathroom. Drawn to her, Lydia manipulates the audition process to secure Olga a spot in the orchestra and a soloist role in Edward Elgar’s cello concerto, paired with Mahler’s 5th. As Lydia intensifies her preparation for the recording, her relationships with Francesca and Sharon deteriorate, as both notice her growing infatuation with Olga.
Cast director: Todd Field
Cast actor: Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant, Sophie Kauer, Allan Corduner, Mark Strong, Sylvia Flote, Julian Glover, Mila Bogojevic, Fabian Dirr
Original name: TÁR