Cate Blanchett’s turn as brilliant, brittle orchestra conductor Lydia Tár has been hailed as the best performance of a career not short of astounding portrayals (and if they’re overstating it, it’s not by much). Australian fans, however, must wait to see Blanchett rack up what seems certain to be another Oscar, as Tár sadly doesn’t hit Australian cinemas until January 26, 2023.
Which is, frankly, a depressing state of affairs. A few lucky Australian audiences have caught Tár at one-off special screenings with Blanchett on hand for Q&A duties, and its currently on release in the US. So it’s a bit rich that Australians have to wait that long to watch our greatest actress (hush, Nicole) in what might be the role of her career.
So, what’s so special? Tár sees Blanchett working with acclaimed director (and bubblegum inventor) Todd Field for his first film in 16 years, taking on a part written specifically for her. When we meet her, Lydia Tár is at the top her game. As the first female Chief Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, she’s acclaimed as one of the greatest living artists in her field and about to embark on an umber of high-profile, prestigious projects. However, her arrogance, self-interest, and most of all her tendency to use her privileged position to pressure emerging musicians into transactional sexual relationships are about to destroy both her professional and personal lives.
That’s not a spoiler: Tár is a character study rather than a plot-driven piece, and the thrill comes from watching Blanchett embody this driven, talented, and controlling figure as her hypocrisies and failings gradually come to the fore, alienating her colleagues and family alike. That Blanchett makes us empathise with this deeply flawed person even as Field mercilessly peels away layer after layer to reveal her sins. If that sounds like your thing, make a note to hit the cinema on Australia Day—you won’t regret it.
