Tár

Edited: October 9, 2025, 9:56 AM · I'm going to do something very stupid, because I'm digging a trap for myself, and re-open discussion of Tár.

I watched it last night for the first time. There was too much talk, so I skipped some of it, but I want to contend that it is universally misunderstood.

The facts are: -
NONE of Lydia's behaviour towards Olga is predatory.
ALL of her behaviour towards Olga is that of a lovesick puppy.
I won't analyse her vomiting outside the massage parlour.
She does not gaslight anyone.
The opening scene is Francesca, frustratedly in love with Lydia, invading Lydia's privacy.
I agree with Lydia's criticism of Max's response to art.
I assume Francesca doctored the video of the above.

***I would suggest that the movie is not about Tár - it is about tar.***

Everyone is prejudiced against Lydia without any direct evidence, without any first-hand knowledge of Krista's personality. All we have is "she-said, she said" hearsay, all filtered by...Francesca. Is the prejudice (pre-judgement) due to misogyny or homophobia?

I gather I was sarcastic about George's intellectualisation, but his accusation of hubris goes beyond what we are given in the film, and his verdict of nemesis is prejudged.

I refuse to watch it a second time - it was on BBC4 and I have deleted it - so don't test me on detail.

I can recommend the L-Word for more in the same vein, and far more watchable!

(Google says Approximately 7,774 to 8,137 people in the USA have the surname Tarr: and approximately 5,450 people in the USA have the surname Mudd. I thought that might be interesting to compare. I guess not really)

And Sophie Kauer was our Soloist for the Dvorak cello concerto in June, which was fab.

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jean dubuisson

Edited: October 9, 2025, 11:21 AM · I watched it on the plane and enjoyed it in that capacity, but I don't actually recall now the intrigues of the story. What I do remember are the scenes at the end where the protagonist has fallen from her pedestal, and is back to conducting obscure orchestras, with the local broom closet serving as her dressing room. That I found very moving: she has lost everything but she can't stop conducting.

Tár

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