I knew nothing about this film but went along to a private screening at Cannes just last week.
I wasn't sure whether the black and white was going to last much past the opening scenes, it did, and I feel it really helped this film portray the contrast and the depression felt by the main character Tetro.
The film slowly unravelled slowly, providing just enough snippets of the bigger underlying story obviously hidden away in the past of the 2 brothers to keep you engaged. Played out against the backdrop of modern day Argentina (it wasn't obvious when the period was until we get a glimpse of a modern day car about 25 minutes in) We have Bennie the young brother, visiting his manic depressive prospect playwright brother and catching up on lost time together. However it's evident from the start that the older brother, Tetro does not want to rekindle any family ties for reasons that unfold during the film.
Bennie discovers the latent stories written by Tetro and attempts to finish them in order for Tetro to be recognised for his brilliance, something Tetro himself seems unwilling to do.
I love what Coppola has done here, I loved the character and the vibe he set, particularly the little village theatre where Tetro worked and where we see a gaudy and low budget production of Faust being performed. We revisit this theatre for Bennie/Tetro's first play which doesn't go well! The underlying story is all about the father of the brothers, a top orchestral conductor who jumped on his far more talented brothers back (Tetro's uncle)to become the most renown conductor in New York. What then follows is his megalomaniacal fathers disregard of his son and subsequent stealing of his sweetheart. Coupled with the fact that Tetro was then responsible for his mothers death in a car crash and his father never forgave him and you have the perfect recipe for the depressive abyss that Tetro finds himself in at the start of the film where we come in.
We see some beautiful flashback sequences, in colour to provide the contrast to Tetro's mood, of past events but done in a theatrical almost ballet style. The ones toward the end of the film are nothing short of exquisite and really hammer home the depth of feeling.
The climax sees Bennie and Tetro finally rewarded by their peers at the regional arts festival for their joint work but also forced to face up to the ultimate family secret, one which I shan't give away here! The signs for a big twist are apparent but exactly what that is may be narrowed down but not apparent until it occurs in my opinion.
The actor who plays young Bennie has DeCaprio overtones and does bear a physical resemblance, Gallo as Tetro is menacing yet feeble behind his fake facade. Tetro's wife provided a perfect go between for the main characters, not to mention turning in a brilliant performance! Jose the cafe owner provides comic relief and 'Alone', the theatre critic is the spectre of potential humiliation and failure that Tetro must overcome and convince of his genius.
I loved this film and only gave it a 7 for the predictable ending which was a bit over dramatic and clichéd for what was otherwise a well acted and nicely designed bit of cinema. The story is rich and the scenery and sets are brilliant, particularly the Patagonian mountains.
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