MovieChat Forums > A Late Quartet (2012) Discussion > Unresolved, therefore unsatisfying

Unresolved, therefore unsatisfying

posted 11 years ago by grandscholar
15 replies | jump to latest

Robert: with the new quartet, will he be able to try playing first violin? Will he have time to venture into composing? Will he be able to continue with the knowledge that his wife has never really loved him? Can he even stand Daniel, who seduced both his wife and his daughter?

Juliette: has she really loved Robert? Without the love for Peter, can she continue? Can she continue with the knowledge that her daughter never forgave her passion for music? Will she ever sort her feelings out?

Alexandra: will she come to accepts that parents have a right to a life outside of family and children?

Or is the message that there are things that will never be resolved, and only the transcendence of music prevents the protagonists from sinking into eternal despair?

(Yes, I have omitted Daniel, because his character is not believable. Really, a repressed egomaniac?)

[–] roncerabona 11 years ago

Spoilers!

There are some interesting comments on this in the trivia section and I noted myself - in the final scene, Daniel plays from memory, closing his music, as Robert requested. Robert and Juliette "have a moment" with the hanky that seem to imply some sort of resolution there (reconciled emotionally, if not maybe in their marriage: I don't know if she didn't love him, maybe just how he wanted). Daniel's coldness, ego and devotion to playing I didn't find too unbelievable though I did wonder about the parents' relationship with him after the revelation about Alexandra (who might have been proud watching the video of her parents, or sad).

[–] grandscholar 11 years ago

There are some interesting comments on this in the trivia section and I noted myself - in the final scene, Daniel plays from memory, closing his music, as Robert requested. Robert and Juliette "have a moment" with the hanky that seem to imply some sort of resolution there (reconciled emotionally, if not maybe in their marriage: I don't know if she didn't love him, maybe just how he wanted). Daniel's coldness, ego and devotion to playing I didn't find too unbelievable though I did wonder about the parents' relationship with him after the revelation about Alexandra (who might have been proud watching the video of her parents, or sad).

I noticed that too. But what happens after the concert? That was why I asked
" Or is the message that there are things that will never be resolved, and only the transcendence of music prevents the protagonists from sinking into eternal despair?"

I don't find Daniel's coldness, ego and devotion to be unbelievable either. What I find unbelievable is that he is repressed and needs someone's prompt to "go ahead" etc.

[–] swinggold 11 years ago

Self-doubt and insecurity is a hidden hallmark of egomania and perfectionism. Daniel is so self-confident because of his devotion to his craft. Remember, he said he had lived a love-less life for most of his life being the only single member of the quartet, before starting the relationship with Alexandra. He poured all of his passion into playing violin and exclusively classical music. Having the written music there was his crutch which also gave him a great amount of control over the group as they all had to adhere to the written page. Egomaniacs are control freaks. He probably felt playing without the notation would give the rest of the group too much freedom and diminish his domination over them.

[–] Kroyall1962 11 years ago

I thought the film resolved itself pretty well. The 1st violinists dalliance with the daughter was over. He is transformed to some extent which is indicated by his willingness to not use the sheet music in the final concert.

The daughter seems to forgive her mother as she watches the video of her. She understands she did the best she knew how given the loss of her own mother. I think that is one of the reasons she ends the affair. That and she didn't want to see the quartet end. That in itself indicates love for her parents because she knew how dear it was to them.

I think her parents would end up working things out. They obviously cleared the air on some underlying issues and in the end I think they realize they belong together. The quartet staying together is symbolic of the relationships within it staying together.

[–] EJverh 11 years ago

Yes, the Quartet was symbolic of their lives and relationships. When broken up, their lives went haywire as well.

[–] Rick-34 10 years ago

I agree that the film resolved many issues. We don't know what will happen next, but that's really not the point. All of the characters expressed themselves and made their best moves possible from where they were. Daniel shed a bit of his ego. Robert stood up for himself. Juliette is dealing with the fact that she's really been a cold wife for years. Alex behaves with maturity beyond her years.

And Peter's departure was handled masterfully.

I honestly don't think Robert and Juliette will work things out. Not because of the affair but because the marriage had always been a bit fake.

What might work out is that the quartet might continue. I think the ending suggests that it will - at least for a while.

[–] thepooles-1 11 years ago

I agree about the Daniel character (not the actor's performance) being unbelievable. He has probably taught many young women AND young men for years (he could easily be gay). Had his exalted status as mentor with easily smitten students never been fully explored until just now? He finally takes the leap but with a girl half his age which shows him to be an emotionally arrested person regardless of his empathy for a dying Schubert. That would required a separate movie.

[–] PsychoDingo 11 years ago

the beauty of ambiguity is you get to use your own imagination to create as many resolution scenarios as you want. it's like a "choose your own adventure" book, where you do the writing

embrace the opportunity instead of begrudging it

Who cares about stairs? The main thing is ice cream.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] PsychoDingo 11 years ago

what, What, WHAT?!?!? the filmmaker wants us to think?!?!? OMG this is terrible! UNSATISFACTORY!!!

some of the best moments we pass in this life are in the dreams of others

[–] Squeeth2 11 years ago

I think they forgot to leave Woody Allen's scenes in.

Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.

[–] lubin-freddy 10 years ago

We do what we have to do, and life goes on. What more do you want?

Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

[–] They-Call-Me-Steve 10 years ago

All of these questions will be answered in the sequel "A Late Quartet 2: Electric Boogaloo"

[–] ciocio-2 10 years ago

Your silly post brought me a bit of cheer. Thanks.

Multiplex: 100+ shows a day, NONE worth watching. John Sayles' latest: NO distribution. SAD.

[–] They-Call-Me-Steve 10 years ago

Right on, glad to hear it.