Supernova, 2020.
Written and directed by Harry Macqueen.
Starring Stanley Tucci, Colin Firth, Lori Campbell, James Dreyfus, Ian Drysdale, Daneka Etchells, Pippa Haywood, Peter MacQueen, Nina Marlin, Tina Louise Owens, John Alan Roberts and Sarah Woodward.
SYNOPSIS:
Sam and Tusker are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have.
Supernova is a small-scale, low-key examination of a relationship dealing with the weight of a dementia diagnosis – and no less powerful for it.
This domestic drama unsurprisingly boasts tremendous performances from its leads, Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, A Single Man) and – in particular – Stanley Tucci (Spotlight, The Lovely Bones), who make a very convincing couple.
Pianist Sam (Firth) and writer Tusker (Tucci) are travelling through England in their motorhome, taking the time to visit with friends and family during their holiday, while they grapple with the impending fallout from Tusker’s diagnosis. Already some way into their journey with drugs, grief and anticipation, the couple struggles to communicate with one another on the topic that has begun to overwhelm their every waking moment together. It’s a simple concept for a film, but Supernova is ready to grapple with this terrible difficulty that so many families have to live with.
The climax of the film comes when Sam accidentally stumbles across Tusker’s plans for his future, already smarting from the knowledge that his partner’s struggle to write has been hidden from him. Rather than blaze straight into an argument however, Sam keeps the knowledge to himself before confronting Tusker when he is ready. The strain Firth is able to hint at, simmering under the seams, is quite remarkable, and Tucci is heart-breaking when he finally realises what Sam knows.
Supernova is not concerned with showing a relationship once dementia has already devastated it, but more the nuances and rhythms that are so important to explore as those affected work out what their best course of action is. This murkier area is, unsurprisingly, fertile ground for an affecting, multi-layered and emotional story.
The sophomore effort from writer, director and actor Harry Macqueen (Hinterland), Supernova is certainly impressive, as the quality of the cast certainly attests to. It’s by no means the first film to tackle dementia – Still Alice and Away From Her, for example, have trod similar ground before – but it’s more unusual to see men exclusively having to open up to this sort of pain in a relationship. And, rather than have Firth and Tucci constantly wallowing in the depths of despair, there are a few darkly humorous moments where Tusker makes throwaway jokes at his own expense, which works beautifully with Tucci’s easy, witty style. He and Firth aren’t exactly playing far from type, but they both do it so beautifully it’s hard to quibble – or imagine any other actors in their roles.
As a high-quality drama, it’s likely Supernova will cause stirs come (delayed) awards season, and for Tucci’s performance that is especially welcome: In a long and varied career, his leading roles have been rare. This intimate film proves Tucci excels wherever he acts, and as a generous performer it’s never at the expense of his co-star. It only seems fair he should equal Firth’s Oscar.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Tori Brazier
