Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci star in this subtle and touching drama, focusing on a loving couple faced with an insurmountable battle against dementia, as it slowly shatters the reality that they have built together.
Dementia touches many of our lives, as many of us will sadly witness the brutal effect the syndrome can have on individuals we love in our lifetime, as well as on the people around them. The notion of losing one’s memories and independence is a soul crushing prospect that no one can ever truly be prepared for. It is this ordeal that takes the focus of the relationship drama at the focus of Supernova, a film which deals with some of the daunting and challenging questions about what one would do for love when faced with something so destructive.
Sam (Firth) and Tusker (Tucci) have been together for over 20 years, and have had a blissful life together. That existence is thrown into uncertainty when Tusker is diagnosed with early onset dementia, which has started to dullen the spark of Tusker’s usually exuberant personality. Planning a road trip to visit friends and family before the symptoms begin to take away Tusker’s memories, the two men are forced to face some dark realities, as the looming shadow of dementia becomes too much to bear.
Supernova very rarely has a huge dramatic outburst of emotion, showing a great deal more restraint than you may be expecting. It is a commendable approach, as the film carries itself with dignity and doesn’t aim to be over sentimental, rather it tries to find the truth within its characters and their interactions.The dialogue can on occasion feel a little trite, but for the most part the drama comes from a place that feels real. It means that the moments which do display more raw emotion are often very affecting, with a dinner table speech in particular proving to be the stand out sequence, displaying the film’s level of restraint at its most elegant and heartbreaking.
Such a level of restraint does often mean that the film can be something of a slow burn, as Sam and Tusker tip toe around each other and the issues that they aren’t quite ready to face. When they do start addressing the uncomfortable questions, the film very much closes in on its two actors, with the latter half of the film being entirely carried by the two performances alone. And what performances they are.
Firth and Tucci strike a cosy chemistry from the off, and convince as a couple with a long loving history underneath their feet. Firth’s Sam is the quieter, more internalised of the two, but is also very clearly finding it hard to know how to navigate their situation. Firth delivers a very tender performance of a man not wanting to lose the person he loves, with scenes of his subtle desperation proving to be the most heart wrenching. Tucci is perfect casting as a man who was once always the life of the party, and is now finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that that man is slowly slipping away.
Supernova works as well as it does thanks to the lead performances from two incredibly fine actors at the top of their game. That it often feels a little pedestrian in terms of how it moves through its storytelling beats can be put down to being an after effect of its restrained approach, something which is also one of the elements to most admire. There’s a lot of dignity in Macqueen’s direction and the performances, treating the situation with the level of respect it deserves, even if that indirectness may occasionally leave you drifting away. It is a drama that feels warm and welcoming, with its long shots of the North of England’s hills and Colin Firth’s knitwear providing a sense of comfort. But it is also one that addresses some hard questions about how far you would be willing to go for the people you love. A delicate and undeniably touching showcase for two wonderful actors.
Supernova
Summary
A delicate and undeniably touching showcase for two wonderful actors.
