Supernova

 A supernova is a star that has died, exploding brightly as it expired, and spread it's molecules across the universe.  Astronomy, and the light beyond our own world, play a big metaphorical role in Harry McQueen's exploration of confronting mortality, as well as adding visual sparkle.

Pianist Sam (Colin Firth),  writer Tusker (Stanley Tucci) and dog Ruby are on a road trip, the end point to be Sam's first live gig in a long time.  Their venerable camper van heads north toward the Lake District, and the couple's bickering, joking and shared memories quickly take us into a decades old relationship of warmth and mutual support.  They revisit an old lakeside haunt from their earliest days together, spend a night parked up outside a rural Spar supermarket.  It feels casual, relaxed, even if Sam seems to fuss a bit.

But when Tusker isn't where he's supposed to be Sam's fussing turns to panic.  His swift pursuit finds the other man, and Ruby, up a country lane where they've almost been hit by a car.  Tusker is in the early stages of dementia, and wandering off like this is becoming a concern for Sam.  His fussing and panic have solid ground to stand on.

They stay with Sam's sister and family where, to his surprise, Tusker has organised a reunion for all their closest friends.  He has given this trip more thought, more long term planning, than Sam had realised.  The reasons become clearer when Sam discovers the secret Tusker has been keeping from him, exploding into their relationship.

Selflessness, selfishness, love and fear are jumbled together until it's hard to tell one from another.  When does caring become over-caring?   Can you control the memories you leave behind?  Is love keeping hold or letting go?  How do we deal with mortality when it starts to run towards us?  The film raises many questions, offers no answers.  But why should it, when they will differ for everyone?

With a subject that could easily fall into sentimentality, both script and performances largely avoid that trap to give us an honest portrayal of the joy and messiness and uncertainty of human relationships.   Firth and Tucci are a delight to watch at their craft, the Englishman taking the greater plaudits for his cautious stoicism diving in to a full blown cocktail of conflicting emotions.  The cinematography is wonderful too, the Lake District never looked better.   Wide angles capture the space they move through, tight in close ups bring intensity, anxiety and involvement to the sensitive exchanges.  This draws the audience into some sad, touching and compelling moments, without feeling emotionally manipulative.  This film seeks out your humanity, not your tears, a proper antidote to Hollywoodism.

A final word of praise for the opening sequence, a simple audiovisual treat of light and piano which sets the scene beautifully.

Recommended.

Footnote : They're a gay couple.  So what?  It's good to see a gay relationship feature in a story where their sexuality is totally irrelevant, and the story would work just as well if they were straight.