Elegy

Director: Isabel Coixet
Year: 2008
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Penélope Cruz, Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson.
Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)

When a person is young,he is carefree, jumping from one relationship to other thinking he has still got it. Things gradually change as he discovers something is missing, that pure feeling of love, admiration, camaraderie, that gentle touch. That makes one realize it was the testosterone talking. There's more to life than that.

Based on a book 'The Dying Animal' by Philip Roth, is a story of David Kepesh (Ben Kinsley) is a renowned cultural critic. He has everything but at this age (around 60) he could feel an emptiness. This is the time when he is bewitched by one of his Cuban student Consuela Castillo (Penélope Cruz). He falls for her 'elegant austerity', as he puts it. After the grades are declared, he meets her at a party. There are some beautiful moments between them here. Very carefully captured. A sexual tension filled across every frame is palpable. Things progress and his world is filled with that love he was looking for like forever, I guess. He has a friend George O'Hearn (Dennis Hopper) older than him with whom he usually plays squash and share the feelings.


There's no particular tone to the film in regard to the professor's life. You know what I mean? The film does not dwell at a particular aspect. Is it about a person's desires in second innings? yes. Is it about his unusual friendship? Yes. His obsession for the girl? Yes. No one answer. Still it says much more. All that is happening to him is an elegy, a requiem, a mourning. A very apt name for this creation. The one thing he loved beyond anything, and the destiny strikes. I won't divulge any further.

The beauty still lies in the narrative finesse and strong performances by all the principal characters. It took about a day for me to come to grips with this film. I hope it will be as memorable for you.