Fugue (2018)

Fugue: Directed by Tomas Street. With Jack Foley, Laura Tremblay, Mike Donis, Kristen Da Silva. Amnesic Malcolm struggles to put the pieces of his life back together and begins questioning those closest to him in this puzzle of memory and identity.

“u0026#39;Oedipus Rexu0026#39;, the first of Sophoclesu0026#39; Theban trilogy, is rightly regarded as one of the masterworks of the human mind in terms of its construction and well-drawn characters.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBringing Greek drama to the screen is fraught with difficulties not least of which is whether one makes it declamatory thereby alienating a modern audience or keeping it conversational and risking the loss of its grandeur. In this regard I think this version has achieved the perfect balance. The other problem is how to employ the Greek chorus and here alas director Philip Saville has been found wanting. The chorus of Theban elders has been dubbed by English thesps which is totally incongruous and the spectacle of Donald Sutherland speaking with the voice of Patrick Allen is utterly absurd.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere is no faulting the performances of the principals however. Ironically Christopher Plummer had recently worked with Saville on a television film of Hamlet, a character whose behaviour has often been linked to his having an u0026#39;Oedipus complexu0026#39;. The role of Oedipus is extremely demanding and Plummer is splendid as a seemingly confident, self-satisfied ruler whose life begins to unravel when a prophecy made years before by a drunken guest becomes a horrifying reality.nHis physique and delivery puts one in mind of a younger Olivier.nThe part of Jocasta is difficult to cast as she has to look young enough to have borne Oedipus two young children but old enough to be his mother! Lili Palmer, still looking great in her late fifties, is ideal in every respect. Incest should definitely be kept in the family! Richard Johnson never disappoints and is excellent as Creon who assumes kingship following Oedipusu0026#39; fall from grace. In the third play of the trilogy Creonu0026#39;s proud, implacable nature will bring him into conflict with Oedipusu0026#39; rebellious daughter Antigone. Further gravitas is supplied by Orson Welles who does his thing as Tiresias the blind prophet and Cyril Cusack quietly steals his scenes as the Messenger who brings tidings which arenu0026#39;t altogether welcome. Nice to see Roger Livesey in one of his last film roles as the Shepherd.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe cinematography is by Walter Lassally, certainly no stranger to Greek terrain as he had previously shot u0026#39;Electrau0026#39; and u0026#39;Zorbau0026#39; for Michael Cacoyannis.nOne cannot but wonder how Cacoyannis himself would have handled this material. Mr. Savilleu0026#39;s direction is capable but not particularly inspired and as mentioned earlier, the misjudged use of the chorus is not only aggravating but weakens the film immeasurably.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e05/02/2021: Farewell Christopher Plummer. May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.u0026quot;”