I am a musician, of sorts, but until now unfamiliar with Beethoven's quartets. He composed a number of them, and a set of six of his string quartets are generally known as his "late quartets." Of those his Opus 131: String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor is the specific subject of this movie, and from where the title comes. Opus 131 is also discussed within some music classes portrayed in the film.
So, is this movie about string quartets and the music they make? No, not really, although the Opus 131 is featured prominently. The story is mainly about five people and their lives, using the surrogate family of the quartet as the connection. They are the four in the quartet and the 24-yr-old daughter of one of the couples.
Catherine Keener is violist Juliette Gelbart and her husband is second violinist Philip Seymour Hoffman as Robert Gelbart . They married 25 years earlier, when their quartet was forming, and they have a daughter Imogen Poots as Alex Gelbart, a young violin student who perhaps has more talent and potential than all of them.
The remainder of the quartet is Christopher Walken as cellist Peter Mitchell and Mark Ivanir as Daniel Lerner, first violinist and leader of the quartet.
The story plays on the fact that what appears to be on the surface is often very different beneath the surface. Even though the group has played for 25 years, Robert has never been fully happy to always play second fiddle, so to speak, and raises the issue of alternating fist violinists. He also wonders if his wife ever loved him, or if he was just a convenient husband, father, and quartet member.
A medical issue arises for Peter, the eldest in the group by almost 30 years. He has lost some of his coordination and is diagnosed with early Parkinson's, and the group faces the thought of having to replace him to keep the quartet together. There is also a budding love affair between Daniel and Alex, his student and daughter of his friends, and that complicates the dynamic.
A fine movie with superb actors, one can enjoy it even if not a musician. Real professional cellist Nina Lee has a small part, as does real operatic singer Anne Sofie von Otter .
So, is this movie about string quartets and the music they make? No, not really, although the Opus 131 is featured prominently. The story is mainly about five people and their lives, using the surrogate family of the quartet as the connection. They are the four in the quartet and the 24-yr-old daughter of one of the couples.
Catherine Keener is violist Juliette Gelbart and her husband is second violinist Philip Seymour Hoffman as Robert Gelbart . They married 25 years earlier, when their quartet was forming, and they have a daughter Imogen Poots as Alex Gelbart, a young violin student who perhaps has more talent and potential than all of them.
The remainder of the quartet is Christopher Walken as cellist Peter Mitchell and Mark Ivanir as Daniel Lerner, first violinist and leader of the quartet.
The story plays on the fact that what appears to be on the surface is often very different beneath the surface. Even though the group has played for 25 years, Robert has never been fully happy to always play second fiddle, so to speak, and raises the issue of alternating fist violinists. He also wonders if his wife ever loved him, or if he was just a convenient husband, father, and quartet member.
A medical issue arises for Peter, the eldest in the group by almost 30 years. He has lost some of his coordination and is diagnosed with early Parkinson's, and the group faces the thought of having to replace him to keep the quartet together. There is also a budding love affair between Daniel and Alex, his student and daughter of his friends, and that complicates the dynamic.
A fine movie with superb actors, one can enjoy it even if not a musician. Real professional cellist Nina Lee has a small part, as does real operatic singer Anne Sofie von Otter .