In their latest movie review for L.A. Weekly, critic Chad Byrnes reviews Târ, Todd Field’s latest film starring Cate Blanchett as Lydia Târ, a fictional conductor. The film follows as Târ is interviewed by real-life writer Adam Gopnik at The New Yorker Festival, which unfolds into the film’s exploration of how artists fit into the world at large.
“The opening interview also establishes Lydia’s backstory (a protégé of Bernstein’s, the head conductor of orchestras in Cleveland, New York, Boston, and now the Berlin Philharmonic) while providing a glimpse into her pathology,” writes Byrnes. “When asked about being a pioneer for women in classical music, Lydia sidesteps the question by saying that gender doesn’t define her. After the interview, Lydia meets some fans backstage. As she indulges the praise of a female admirer, her assistant, Francesca (Noémie Merlant), gratingly watches from the wings with the concerned look of someone who’s seen too many of her boss’ proclivities.”
