A Late Quartet

A Late Quartet is a 2012 American drama film co-written (with Seth Grossman), produced, and directed by Yaron Zilberman. 

The film uses chamber music played by the Brentano String Quartet and especially, Beethoven's Opus 131.

The star cast is to die for: 

• Philip Seymour Hoffman as Robert Gelbart (Second Violinist)

• Christopher Walken as Peter Mitchell (Cellist)

• Catherine Keener as Juliette Gelbart (The Violist)

• Mark Ivanir as Daniel Lerner (First Violinist)

• Imogen Poots as Alexandra Gelbart (daughter of Robert and Juliette)

As the quartet (The Fugue) approaches its 25th anniversary, diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease of its lynchpin member (Peter) unleashes drama in their relationships and lives. He is the wisest of all and the hub around which the quartet was formed and survived.

Long repressed emotions, simmering jealousies, egos, and sacrifices come slowly to the surface. Impartially, we understand that each member feels right from his or her point-of-view. From interview reels of each player, we learn how the quartet was formed, how each member has sacrificed ‘solo’ dreams or other dreams to form and keep the quartet together. 

To add to the team dynamics, Alexandra comes into the picture by falling in love with Daniel. He also falls in love with her; he professes that she is the first woman he loved. In a brilliant but casual scene, Alexandra rightly summarizes the secret of the quartet’s success in one of her conversations with Daniel. 

As the film unfolds, Alexandra matures more and shows her maturity to Daniel in a crucial scene.

This movie is about playing together, learning from that, and about the cause (the music and the quartet) being bigger than each individual member. It’s about beauty, about creation, and about being happy about one’s position in the scheme of things. 

It’s about the bigger picture; really, that scene in which Peter Mitchell tells his music class an anecdote about meeting Pablo Casals says it all.

It’s about having a graceful exit and passing the baton to the next generation. With hope. With passion. It’s about leaving a legacy. 

Bravo. 

Go ahead, close those notes, and play with your heart, with feelings, and with passion.