Unfinished Song (Song for Marion) is one of those quintessentially British Dramedies. It will have you laughing and it will have you crying, but most of all it will leave you smiling.
Vanessa Redgrave is Marion who is dying of cancer (I told you that you would be crying). Terence Stamp is her chronically grumpy husband and they live in one of those unlovable towns in the North of England, which we have grown to love. Yes, there is a predictable quality to this film, but the fantastic acting makes it predictably wonderful.
Former Bond girl Gemma Arterton (who was also in the wonderful Tamara Drewe) plays the director of a choir for old age pensioners, the OAPz (it's more street with the z). As Marion gets sicker she has problems making the rehearsals for their entry in a choir competition...and her grumpy husband gets pulled into the group.
If you don't like a slightly sappy film then skip this one. I loved it. When Vanessa Redgrave sang True Colours...well I dare you not to tear up. And of course we get to hear Terence Stamp sing at the end, which is wonderful. Go Grandpa!
I think the only odd part about this film is the animosity between Terence Stamp and the son (Dr. Who's Christopher Eccleston), the only offspring of this unlikely duo. He looks like a thug, but he turns out to be a real sweetie, and the script never really gives us an explanation of why father and son can't stay on speaking terms. It is almost as if a few key scenes were left on the cutting room floor.
But it is still a great film and well worth seeing. It should be out on DVD soon, as it was in our art house theater in July, but I have been on holidays and just finally got around to finishing this post.
Cheers!
