The Song of Names
The Song of Names is a 2019 drama film directed by François Girard.[4] An adaptation of the novel of the same name by Norman Lebrecht, it stars Tim Roth and Clive Owen as childhood friends from London whose lives have been changed by World War II.[4] The film was nominated for nine Canadian Screen Awards, winning five.
The Song of Names | |
---|---|
Film poster | |
Directed by | François Girard |
Produced by | Nick Hirschkorn Lyse Lafontaine Robert Lantos |
Screenplay by | Jeffrey Caine |
Based on | The Song of Names by Norman Lebrecht |
Starring | Tim Roth Clive Owen |
Music by | Howard Shore |
Cinematography | David Franco |
Edited by | Michel Arcand |
Production company | Serendipity Point Films |
Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics |
Release date | |
Country | Canada Germany Hungary United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | $1,138,700[2][3] |
Plot
In Europe, during World War II, Martin, a nine-year-old boy, takes a liking to his new adopted brother, Dovidl. Dovidl is a miracle violin player of his age, and has just arrived in London as a refugee. After a few years, before giving a concert at age 21, Dovidl disappears without a trace, bringing shame and ruin to his adoptive family. Years later, when Martin is 56 years old, a young violinist shows a style that only Dovidl could have taught.
Cast
- Tim Roth as Martin Simmonds
- Gerran Howell as Martin Simmonds aged 17–23
- Misha Handley as Martin Simmonds aged 9–13
- Gerran Howell as Martin Simmonds aged 17–23
- Clive Owen as Dovidl Rapoport
- Jonah Hauer-King as Dovidl Rapoport aged 17–21
- Luke Doyle as Dovidl Rapoport aged 9–13
- Jonah Hauer-King as Dovidl Rapoport aged 17–21
- Catherine McCormack as Helen Simmonds
- Saul Rubinek as Mr. Feinman
- Eddie Izzard as BBC Radio Announcer
Release
The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.[5]
Reception
The Song of Names received mixed to negative reviews. As of August 2020, 39% of the 54 reviews compiled on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes are positive, with an average rating of 5.29/10. The website's critics consensus states, "The Song of Names is made from intriguing ingredients, but they never quite coalesce into a drama that satisfies the way it should."[6]
Accolades
At the 8th Canadian Screen Awards The Song of Names tied with Antigone for most wins, with five.[7]
Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canadian Screen Awards | 28 May 2020 | Best Art Direction / Production Design | François Séguin and Pierre Perrault | Nominated | [8][7] |
Best Costume Design | Anne Dixon | Nominated | |||
Best Hair | Michelle Coté, Péter Gyongyosi and Erzsébet Racz | Nominated | |||
Best Makeup | Fanny Vachon | Won | |||
Best Original Score | Howard Shore | Won | |||
Best Original Song | Howard Shore, "The Song of Names (Cantor Prayer)" | Won | |||
Best Overall Sound | Claude La Haye, Bernard Gariépy Strobl, Mark Appleby and Daniel Bisson | Won | |||
Best Sound Editing | Francine Poirier, Claude Beaugrand, Michel B. Bordeleau, Raymond Legault, Lise Wedlock and Natalie Fleurant | Won | |||
Best Visual Effects | Marc-Antoine Rousseau | Nominated | |||
Canadian Society of Cinematographers | 16 July 2020 | Best Theatrical Feature Cinematography | David Franco | Won | [9] |
Prix Iris | 10 June 2020 | Best Sound | Claude Beaugrand, Michel B. Bordeleau, Bernard Gariépy Strobl, Claude La Haye, Raymond Legault | Nominated | [10] |
Best Original Music | Howard Shore | Nominated | |||
Best Hairstyling | Michelle Coté | Nominated | |||
Best Visual Effects | Alain Lachance, Jean-Pierre Riverin | Nominated | |||
References
- "The Song of Names". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- "The Song of Names (2019)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- "The Song of Names (2019)". The Numbers. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- "Clive Owen WWII film ‘The Song of Names’ getting TIFF Gala Presentation". The Loop, July 23, 2019.
- "TIFF bringing in new films starring Tom Hanks, Christian Bale, Joaquin Phoenix and dozens more". Toronto Star. July 23, 2019.
- "The Song of Names". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- Weaver, Jackson (28 May 2020). "Antigone named best picture on final night of Canadian Screen Awards". CBC News. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- Wilner, Norman (18 February 2020). "Canadian Screen Awards 2020: Prepare for a Schitt's show". Now.
- "The 63rd Annual CSC Award Nominees And Winners And Links" (PDF). Canadian Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- "Prix Iris 2020: «Il pleuvait des oiseaux» et «La femme de mon frère» partent favoris". The Huffington Post (in French). 23 April 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.