The Song of Names

The Song of Names is a 2019 drama film directed by François Girard.[4] An adaptation of the novel of the same name by Norman Lebrecht, it stars Tim Roth and Clive Owen as childhood friends from London whose lives have been changed by World War II.[4] The film was nominated for nine Canadian Screen Awards, winning five.

The Song of Names
Film poster
Directed by	François Girard
Produced by	Nick Hirschkorn Lyse Lafontaine Robert Lantos
Screenplay by	Jeffrey Caine
Based on	The Song of Names by Norman Lebrecht
Starring	Tim Roth Clive Owen
Music by	Howard Shore
Cinematography	David Franco
Edited by	Michel Arcand
Production company	Serendipity Point Films
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Classics
Release date	September 8, 2019 (TIFF)[1]
Country	Canada Germany Hungary United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	$1,138,700[2][3]

Plot

Dovidl Rappaport is a 9-year-old boy from Poland who lost his parents and siblings in World War II. Dovidl is also a prodigy at the violin. A family called the Simmonds adopt him and he is taken to their home in England. The Simmonds' son Martin starts bonding with his new adoptive brother as he likes Dovidl (whose name Martin anglicizes to David) playing the violin.

David continues practicing playing the violin while still remembering his biological family. Years pass by, and David and Martin are now 21 years old. There is just one day left for a concert featuring David, when he mysteriously disappears with his violin.

It is revealed that David had fallen asleep on a bus and visits a Polish Jewish community in Stoke Newington, asking them about whether his family is still alive. He is then taken to a synagogue, where a list of people with the surname Rapaport who died during the WW2 is announced (in the form of a song, to make it easier to remember). After finding out that none of his family excluding him has survived, he breaks down.

Years later, in about the 1990s, Martin is now 56 years old and is married. He learns about a violinist, who he notices play in the same pattern as his brother David, who had disappeared about 35 years ago. Martin then sets off to Poland to find his brother.

After meeting David's former love, who says that David left on a plane but told her where he was going, Martin arrives at New York, where he finds David, who is married and has children. Martin is furious with David and tries to persuade him to perform at a concert. David at first refuses, but then accepts on two conditions (not revealed in the scene).

Two months later, Martin and his wife attend the concert, where David first plays with an orchestra, and then has a solo performance, in which he plays the 'Song of Names', remembering his family. Martin then receives a letter from David stating the former must think of the latter as dead and they must never meet again. The film ends with Martin reading the Kaddish, having reluctantly accepted that David is now dead, although he actually isn't.

Cast

• Tim Roth as Martin Simmonds
  • Gerran Howell as Martin Simmonds aged 17–23
    • Misha Handley as Martin Simmonds aged 9–13
• Clive Owen as Dovidl Rapoport
  • Jonah Hauer-King as Dovidl Rapoport aged 17–21
    • Luke Doyle as Dovidl Rapoport aged 9–13
• Stanley Townsend as Gilbert Simmons
• Catherine McCormack as Helen Simmonds
• Saul Rubinek as Mr. Feinman
• Eddie Izzard as BBC Radio Announcer

Release

The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.[5]

Reception

The Song of Names received mixed to negative reviews. As of August 2020, 39% of the 54 reviews compiled on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes are positive, with an average rating of 5.29/10. The website's critics consensus states, "The Song of Names is made from intriguing ingredients, but they never quite coalesce into a drama that satisfies the way it should."[6]

Accolades

At the 8th Canadian Screen Awards The Song of Names tied with Antigone for most wins, with five.[7]

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref(s)
Canadian Screen Awards	28 May 2020	Best Art Direction / Production Design	François Séguin and Pierre Perrault	Nominated	[8][7]
		Best Costume Design	Anne Dixon	Nominated
		Best Hair	Michelle Coté, Péter Gyongyosi and Erzsébet Racz	Nominated
		Best Makeup	Fanny Vachon	Won
		Best Original Score	Howard Shore	Won
		Best Original Song	Howard Shore, "The Song of Names (Cantor Prayer)"	Won
		Best Overall Sound	Claude La Haye, Bernard Gariépy Strobl, Mark Appleby and Daniel Bisson	Won
		Best Sound Editing	Francine Poirier, Claude Beaugrand, Michel B. Bordeleau, Raymond Legault, Lise Wedlock and Natalie Fleurant	Won
		Best Visual Effects	Marc-Antoine Rousseau	Nominated
Canadian Society of Cinematographers	16 July 2020	Best Theatrical Feature Cinematography	David Franco	Won	[9]
Directors Guild of Canada	27 October 2020	Best Production Design – Feature Film	François Séguin	Nominated	[10]
Prix Iris	10 June 2020	Best Sound	Claude Beaugrand, Michel B. Bordeleau, Bernard Gariépy Strobl, Claude La Haye, Raymond Legault	Nominated	[11]
		Best Original Music	Howard Shore	Nominated
		Best Hairstyling	Michelle Coté	Nominated
		Best Visual Effects	Alain Lachance, Jean-Pierre Riverin	Nominated

References

1. "The Song of Names". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
2. "The Song of Names (2019)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
3. "The Song of Names (2019)". The Numbers. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
4. "Clive Owen WWII film ‘The Song of Names’ getting TIFF Gala Presentation". The Loop, July 23, 2019.
5. "TIFF bringing in new films starring Tom Hanks, Christian Bale, Joaquin Phoenix and dozens more". Toronto Star. July 23, 2019.
6. "The Song of Names". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
7. Weaver, Jackson (28 May 2020). "Antigone named best picture on final night of Canadian Screen Awards". CBC News. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
8. Wilner, Norman (18 February 2020). "Canadian Screen Awards 2020: Prepare for a Schitt's show". Now.
9. "The 63rd Annual CSC Award Nominees And Winners And Links" (PDF). Canadian Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
10. "Nominees Announced for 19th Annual DGC Awards". CNW Group. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
11. "Prix Iris 2020: «Il pleuvait des oiseaux» et «La femme de mon frère» partent favoris". The Huffington Post (in French). 23 April 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.

External links

• The Song of Names at IMDb