Is Supernova Worth Watching?

Gentle exploration of love

Sometimes, a movie doesn’t need to be surprising or action-packed to grab attention and not let go until the very end. Supernova ( 2020) is an excellent proof of this.

In this article I will try to answer the question – Is Supernova worth watching?

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What is this movie about?

Supernova is a heartfelt drama about two married men who visit places they both remember while one of them slowly loses his memory. Their journey is not just a nostalgic trip to the areas of bygone years but a metaphor for accepting death.

The movie opens up a picture of the starry sky, in which a star first appears, then glows brightly and begins to fade until it finally disappears. In the same way, Tusker is fading away – he was diagnosed with rapidly progressive dementia. The bill went on for months, which is why all their worries, deeds and work duties suddenly stopped to matter. The couple has only one desire to stretch their relationship: to be near, to feel love, and to be able to hug.

The acting duet of Colin Firth (Sam) and Stanley Tucci ( Tusker) deserves a separate discussion. Not a fraction of falsehood exists in even the slightest movements and glances. The unfolding internal conflict and its resolution look so natural that there is only one desire during the film – to surrender to emotions.

If you like the sarcasm and irony that Tucci often gives to his characters, then in Supernova, you can see their subtle mixture of bitterness and resignation in the face of the inevitable. Firth is also recognizable in his restraint, which is accompanied by his hero’s desperate and sometimes furious attempts to seize on the elusive time allotted for being with a loved one. Thus, a quiet drama of painful farewell unfolds before us. 

You can watch Supernova on Prime Videos or Hulu.

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Supernova, 2020, or get ready to cry.

Without a doubt, Harry Macqueen made a lyrical and very tender film. There is neither vulgarity nor edification nor cheap attempts to pity the viewer. The story came out delicate, exemplary personal, and therefore the most reliable.

Despite the absence of the usual markers of “romantic” and “intimate” – passionate kisses, bed scenes – the romantic is constantly implied in it.

The tragedy Sam and Tasker are trying to navigate through touches them both on a deep level. They both try to pretend everything is in order and nothing has changed, sometimes afraid to admit that everything has changed.

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If Tucci plays an analog of death in the film, Firth looks at this very death, hugs him, and tries to find echoes of his husband. In public, the hero of Firth is confident, but remaining alone with himself, he cannot hold back tears.

The director shows ordinary people talking about culture, politics, past mistakes, and a happy present. McQueen intentionally weakly reveals the characters of Firth and Tucci, thereby allowing the audience to complement their images, making them closer to everyone. After all, this movie is about the most people facing a problem that anyone can face. I already wrote a review about another picture of dementia The Father. But in my opinion, there is a difference. Losing your partner is like losing your present and future.

And it’s terrifying. Very scary, very sad and very touching.

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Supernova film locations.

Landscapes Supernova is another hero of the story. Our heroes are surrounded by Britain’s endlessly beautiful landscapes wherever they go. Valleys, lakes, mountains, slopes, narrow roads, and vast plains… 

Macqueen relishes the delightful British landscapes so much that it hurts my heart. I want to drop everything and go there. It is impossible to break away from the views of nature and the overall beauty of the film.

Filming took place mainly in Cumbria in the UK, at several Lake District and Keswick locations. The cinematographer is two-time Oscar nominee Dick Pope.

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Final words.

Supernova is a great movie. Subtle, infinitely tender and beautiful, in which the emphasis is on the attachment of two people to each other. Life is a journey, not a destination. 

If you are interested in this review – run and watch. You definitely won’t regret it.