The film follows a couple who are highly regarded in their respective fields – Sam (Colin Firth), a pianist, and Tusker (Stanley Tucci), a writer, as they take a holiday trip across England in their RV. They visit friends, family and significant places from their 20 years together and, whilst they travel forward along the winding country roads, they also look back into an unwinding past of memories. Tusker has been dealing with early-onset dementia for over two years and his condition is worsening. Via these visits to family and friends, the pair are en route to what will be Sam’s final piano concert before he vows to take care of his lover.
What follows is a stunningly intimate and authentic portrait of a gay couple, riddled with the devastating impact of dementia on those who have it and those close to them. This is an utterly beautiful film, both in terms of its British countryside visuals and in its depiction of its two protagonists.
Firth offers a caring yet pained performance borne out of sincerely conveyed love and is the more initially striking of the two, yet it is Tucci’s deeply nuanced and reserved turn, an outwardly frail and tired persona at once marked with moments of strength and resilience – a weary resignation matched with steadfast determination – that is perhaps even stronger. But, indeed, the film represents two powerhouse veterans at the very peak of their abilities.
The duo are undoubtedly aided by the competent writing and strong direction of Macqueen, together striving for naturalistic acting and believable dialogue that in turn establishes genuine chemistry between the pair. Their relationship comes across as real and developed, such that it genuinely feels that these two people have spent two decades together, making it all the more devastating that Tusker ultimately desires to leave the world behind before he becomes just a shell of his former self, but Sam desperately cannot bear to let him go.
A reflective and meditative piece about coming to terms with illness, and the healing yet destructive nature of love, the narrative also takes some unexpected and emotional turns that urge you to empathise deeply with both men. Come the end of the film, you cannot help but feel a deep sorrow for their respective and collective pain, unable to disagree with either perspective.
The Blu-ray also offers a small number of special features, including:
- Interview Selects: Harry Macqueen
- Interview Selects: Stanley Tucci
- Interview Selects: Colin Firth
- Featurette
- Panel Discussion
Supernova passed somewhat under the radar upon its cinematic release – largely overshadowed in conversation by another sensitive and heart-wrenching take on dementia in the form of Florian Zeller’s The Father – but hopefully its home release garners the film some much deserved attention.
Harry Macqueen’s sophomore feature, Supernova, is now available to buy on DVD and Blu Ray.
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