Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci with two of the best performances of their careers, as a gay couple who embark on a road trip after they find out some worrying news.
“I’m becoming a passenger, and I’m not a passenger” says Tucci’s character as he confronts his own slow demise. Supernova is the third film this past year to explore the dreaded illness that is dementia, it is a film that is in stark contrast to The Father which I recently reviewed. It explores the early stages of the illness, and how people deal with it in the beginning, whilst still possessing most of their capabilities, albeit slowly diminishing in front of our eyes.
This story revolves around a gay couple called Sam and Tusker (Firth and Tucci). The couple set off on a road trip across England to the Lake District as they attempt to deal with Tusker’s diagnosis of early onset dementia; meeting friends on the way and staring down the barrel of their relationship as it slowly comes to an end. Having a gay couple as the centrepiece felt so refreshing. It was heart-warmingly funny at times as well, that sweet humour you have with a loved one, completely endearing.
This British romance film was directed by Harry Macqueen (whose only previously known work is 2015s Hinterland) and he really got a tune out of the material for this one. He is aided by fabulous performances from the two lead men – this is by far Tucci’s best performance since 2009s The Lovely Bones. There is just a great chemistry between Firth and Tucci, it is authentic and believable, these two men are completely in love, they love each other’s company and all the little jokes they have, which spur each other on.
They are struggling to face the fact of mortality, the fact their perfect little world together will come crashing down. The film is a package of gifts though, the cinematography by Dick Pope is simple yet effective, focusing on the characters and using the landscape as one as well – the camera just lets them do their thing. Having been to the Lake District countless times, it really is a beautifully sacred place, a secluded getaway and perfectly simple for these two men to enjoy.
Supernova begins by introducing us to the couple, Sam is a classically trained musician who is doing one last concert before retiring, and Tusker is an author trying to write one last book. As they are driving through the spectacular Cumbrian countryside, they discuss their love for classical music, astronomy and for each other. You begin to get a sense of the uphill battle they are facing after an incident at a service station where Tusker goes walkabouts. We learn that Tusker’s dementia is rapidly becoming more apparent, with Sam becoming increasingly more worried about his partners psyche, and what it will mean for their future.
The journey through this breath-taking landscape leads them to their friend Lilly’s house, it is here where Tusker has unexpectedly organized a surprise party for Sam. It is followed by an incredibly moving speech by Sam, which Tusker wrote – being a writer, it is the most effective way he can get his words across – but couldn’t physically read himself. As the party is in full swing Sam learns from a friend that Tusker has been unable to carry on writing due to his deterioration, this forces Sam to do some snooping on his partner, discovering secrets that will change their life drastically.
The next day, the couple head towards the concert and stop at the most beautiful little house in the secluded countryside, which they are to rent for the night. This is where they begin to hash out what is on their minds; Tusker cannot bear the thought of being a burden on his partners life, wanting to be remembered by his peers as a proud and intelligent man, which could be forgotten as his illness becomes more noticeable. Sam’s wish is to be able to look after Tusker right until the end, cleaning him and feeding him if needs be. Is there a happy medium between the two or will Sam be forced to make the drastic decision of respecting Tuskers final wishes? There was even an attempt at a raucous sex scene after their argument, but it really wasn’t the time or the place.
Supernova is a beautiful little film that explores themes of love and the strength of relationships. The film almost solely revolves around the two men, as this terrible illness disrupts their perfect little life together. I haven’t seen these two actors with such powerful performances for a long time, it was a pleasure to watch them experiment with all their emotions in an extremely intimate way. The final act could have been a play, as the two men were in such a small vicinity, professing their love for one another and letting the dialogue ebb and flow, focusing on them and them alone.
The music is dramatic and gives the film a real emotional tone – Keaton Henson really knows how to construct a meaningful score. It really is heart-breaking; you feel a genuine connection between the two men – two cinema stalwarts respecting the craft and giving it their every thought – a connection that I feel is lost with a lot of romantic films of years gone by. It is a breath of fresh air to see three completely different takes on dementia this past year, all brilliant in their own unique way.
Supernova can be seen in select cinemas and depending on your region, rented from Amazon Prime.
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