It seems these days that there are so many attempts to
re-write history as it takes place. Rather than document what is actually
transpiring historians have chosen instead to present their views on what is
taking place. Facts no longer matter and feelings rule. Sadly that results in
the facts being mislaid or altogether forgotten. Consider, for example, the
number of young people who have no idea what the holocaust was. Hopefully
they’ll find themselves exposed to historical moments and seek out the truth of
what took place. Moments like the film THE SONG OF NAMES.
Told in alternating timelines the film tells the story of
Martin Simmonds (played by Tim Roth and at earlier ages by Gerran Howell and
Misha Handley), a musician and musical judge whose adopted brother disappeared
years ago as he was supposed to play a concert for all to hear. When a student
being judged plays the same way his brother once did, Martin goes on a hunt to
find his long lost brother.
Dovidl Rapoport (played over the years by Luke Doyle, Jonah
Hauer-King and Clive Owen) was a young sent to live with the Simmonds family in
London during the war. A violin prodigy his family has sent him along knowing
that the Germans will soon invade Poland. While the two young boys at first
don’t see eye to eye, they soon become best friends and as near brothers as can
be.
Dovidl is being raised in the Jewish faith as part of the
agreement with the Simmonds family. Martin’s father is so impressed with the
young boy’s skills on the violin that he helps continue his education as well
as purchase him a rare professional violin.
As I said the film moves back and forth in time from the
youth of the two boys to Martin’s search for his long lost brother. In 1951 a recording
of him performing had been released and he was considered one of the best. The
concert he was to perform was paid for by Martin’s father. As the time to begin
comes and goes, it becomes apparent Dovidl isn’t going to show. Not only that,
he disappears from the face of the earth.
The film is a combination of mystery, historical piece and
drama, combining all three elements to perfection. Martin is certain that he
can follow the trail of where Dovidl went all those years ago. That trail takes
him to a street performer who taught the student he saw. He was taught by
Dovidl years ago before Dovidl left for Treblinka where his family was taken.
Treblinka leads him to New York. Each step of the way he learns more about what
happened on Dovidl’s trip but not everything.
The historical aspect of the film deals with the death of
Jews in Germany during the war. Without revealing too much the actual song of
names is sung by a rabbi. It is an oral history in song, a way of remembering
the names of those killed during the war so that they will not be forgotten.
The drama lies in the aspects of the young boy’s lives
growing up in war torn London and the long awaited reunion. What transpires
pulls together the final third of the film revealing what took place before the
concert that never was. The bond between the two now grown men remains from
what it was all those years ago. But time has changed both from what they once
were.
Tim Roth and Clive Owens have always been solid performers
when it comes to the roles they’ve been given and it’s no different here. While
Owens has the smaller role of the two the torment his character faces is well
portrayed. Roth as the brother tormented by the financial loss his father
suffered as well as the loss of this friend is a match and his performance is
more subtle here than most.
Director Francois Girard is no stranger to music and
especially in film. Having directed a documentary about Glenn Gould, two films
with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the critically acclaimed THE RED VIOLIN, he not only
tells the story behind the music but delivers great music at the same time. A
large part of that no doubt is the assistance provided with music by Howard
Shore who has written music for film in the past for such films as THE LORD OF
THE RINGS, GANGS OF NEW YORK and a number of TV shows. Together they bring the
music to life here.
The film may be a bit dry for some with no car chases,
explosions or scantily clad women but it offers a story that will make you
think about the tragedies of war and how they affect all involved even in a
distant way. It will also provide a starting point for some to look into
history. The type of history that records facts and names rather than opinions.
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