Quartet
Winter 2013 Features series
Monday, April 1, 2013 at 7:00pm
Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 7:00pm
Acadia Cinema's Al Whittle Theatre
450 Main Street, Wolfville, NS
Directed by Dustin Hoffman
Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
Based on the play by Ronald Harwood
Starring Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins, and Michael Gambon
Rated PG ·
1h 38m
United Kingdom
English
Based on Ronald Harwood’s stage play of the same name, Quartet is a wickedly comic film about redefining old age and growing old with hope; demonstrating how art illuminates life and the human spirit remains undimmed even as the brightest stars start to fade.
Lifelong friends Wilf and Reggie, together with former colleague Cissy, are residents of Beecham House, a home for retired opera singers. Every year on Giuseppe Verdi’s birthday, the residents unite to give a concert to raise funds for their home. But when Jean Horton, a former grande dame of the opera fallen on hard times, also Reggie’s ex-wife and the fourth and most celebrated member of their former quartet, moves into the home to everyone’s surprise, the plans for this year’s concert start to unravel.
As old grudges threaten to undermine past glories and theatrical temperaments play havoc with the rehearsal schedule, it becomes apparent that having four of the finest singers in English operatic history under one roof offers no guarantee that the show will go on.
Quartet is actor Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, and has been nominated for a 2013 Golden Globe for Maggie Smith’s performance (Best Actress – Comedy or Musical)