TÁR
dir. Todd Field · 2022
The pursuit of greatness can lead to a fall from grace when the weight of ambition and the consequences of one's actions become unbearable.
Lydia Tár, a celebrated conductor, navigates the complexities of her career while preparing for a live recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 5. As her carefully constructed world begins to unravel, the film immerses viewers in a tense exploration of ambition, power, and the dark undercurrents of artistic obsession. Watching it feels like being drawn into a meticulously crafted psychological labyrinth, where every note and gesture carries the weight of Lydia's impending downfall.
Having achieved an enviable career few could even dream of, renowned conductor/composer Lydia Tár, the first female principal music director of the Berlin Philharmonic, is at the top of her game. As a conductor, Lydia not only orchestrates, she manipulates. As a trailblazer, the passionate virtuoso leads the way in the male-dominated classical music industry. Lydia prepares for the release of her memoir while juggling work and family. She is also willing to take up one of her most significant challenges: a live recording of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5. However, forces that even the imperious maestro can't control slowly chip away at Lydia's elaborate facade, revealing the genius's dirty secrets and the insidious, corrosive nature of power. What if life knocks Lydia off her pedestal?
