Elegy
The Movie Displays No Elegy At All!
Movie – Elegy (2009)
Director – Isabel Coixet
Starcast - Sir Ben Kingsley, Penelope Cruz, Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson
Awards - 2 wins and 4 nominations
Let me savour the delights of infidelity until I lose the verve and learn to be loyal!
The movie is an adaptation from Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Philip Roth’s novel- The Dying Animal. Directed by Isabel Coixet, starring Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz as the protagonist, the movie gyrates around David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley), lecturer, who ventures out to lure her student- Consuela Castillo (Penelop Cruz) to establish physical relations with him and soon, succeeds in his ostensible stratagem. Friend George (Dennis Hopper) plays a bad advisor as he plays a compere to amatory pleasures. Ben Kingsley is as marvelous as ever and adds another feather to his already embellished crown. Penelope Cruz, through the movie, has made sure she secures a nomination in the Oscars. Fabulous performance from the Spanish actress! However, the precocious plot displays infidelity and provides hassocks to illicit desires in the name of love.
David, a teacher, develops feelings for her student, Corsuela, only to fornicate with her. His motives are backed by his friend. What started solely as an ephemeral courtship turns black with the gradual genesis of an unwholesome feeling of impoverished love. David, as a result, develops paraphernalia for Corsuela; escorting her home, missing her and spying over her in a discotheque. Meanwhile, David’s second wife, Carolyn (Patricia Clarkson) comes to terms with his bravado and abandons him. Innocent Corsuela embellishes figments of a lifetime relation and decides to tie wedding knots with David, who becomes immensely conscious of his old-age and regresses to a path of solitude. Intimidated by the thoughts of the crowd’s reaction at their awkwardly-matched pair, he decides not to turn up at a function organized at Corsuela’s place. The escapade finally, comes to a halt as the two realize that the affair cannot materialize into a licit relation and depart, only to meet a year ahead when Corsuela develops breast cancer. David approaches his doctor son from his first, divorced wife, who promises to help him save Corsuela. The end displays David and Corsuela’s unconventional unconditional love for each other, where he accepts her and alludes the audience of a mature David Kepesh.
Penelope Cruz makes sure she gives Spanish touch to the character. The Spanish actress has perfectly harboured the emotions of the character of a young flamboyant lady with a mature, doomed woman towards the end of the movie. Perhaps, she displays the reason for Isabel Coixet’s choice of Penelope Cruz’s acting prowess over a younger actress. Dennis Hopper as George and Patricia Clarkson as Carolyn have showcased their impugnable acting talent through stints. Though, ‘Elegy’ exudes a well crafted, synchronized plot, the movie becomes slow in progression in the distal early half. Elegy presents a carefully meddled issue that displays darker, yet, desirable perils of the society.
It, at all, is not meant for the Indian audience. A follower of such a movie would only gain a broken family, tattered emotional outbursts and solitude. Ironically, what should have been portrayed as a forewarning to viewers, has been displayed as something to look up to!
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