Song for Marion (3 Stars)

Is this a depressing film or an uplifting film? It depends on the way you look at it. It's supposed to be uplifting, but for me the depressing aspects overweigh.

70-year-old Marion Harris, pictured above, is happy and loves life. Even though she's wheelchair-bound and terminally ill with cancer, she regularly visits her local community centre for choir practise. Her husband Arthur doesn't get it. He thinks she should stay at home and relax instead of exerting herself.

The word cancer is never used in the film, even though it's obvious what's meant. It's a terrible word that people are afraid to use.

Arthur loves his wife, there's no doubt about it, but he's a grumpy old man. Because of her disability he has to bring her to the community centre, but he doesn't go in. He stands outside by himself smoking. He listens to the songs through the window, but he doesn't approve. They're too modern for him.

Halfway through the film Marion dies. Arthur becomes even more of a recluse than he was before. Then he starts to think about Marion's singing. He goes to the community centre and listens through the window, even though he has no reason to be there. Elizabeth, the choir's teacher, encourages him to start singing. At first she gives him private lessons, and then he joins the choir.

I think you can see the film's dichotomy. A man finds new hope through singing after the death of his wife. That's uplifting. But she's dead. The film even shows her dying. I have difficulty watching films about cancer.

In the film's favour, it has outstanding performances by the main actors. Gemma Arterton is my favourite actress among all actresses who're active today. Christopher Eccleston plays his part excellently as Arthur's son. But Terence Stamp steals the show as Arthur. It's amazing how well he portrays a man with pent up emotions. He's playing a man who's trying to hide his emotions, but Arthur isn't 100% successful. Terence Stamp lets the emotions seep through with an occasional flash of his eyes.

For the sake of realism, a complete amateur choir was used in the film. They already knew one another, so they had natural chemistry. There were just a couple of actors inserted into the choir for the speaking roles. As far as the singing was concerned, they were acting naturally and doing what they did best.

I can imagine that many of my friends will like this film. Maybe you can concentrate on the film's uplifting aspects. I can't.

Success Rate:  + 7.2

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