Supernova
Director: Harry Macqueen
Writer: Harry Macqueen
Cast: Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci, Pippa Haywood, Peter MacQueen
Seen on: 8.11.2021

Plot:
Sam (Colin Firth) and Tusker (Stanley Tucci) are setting off on a road trip together, towards a concert Sam will be giving, the first in a long time. On the way there, they are determined to visit important places and people of their life together. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia and is lapsing more and more, their trip is something like a farewell tour, too.

Supernova is a beautiful and sad film with great performances and a devastating soundtrack (thank you, Keaton Henson). It should not be missed.

Supernova is one of those films where the fact that Sam and Tusker are gay is entirely incidental to the story. It’s not irrelevant, it’s part of their identities and their lives, but it doesn’t matter to the story. It’s a rare balance to strike, and it works wonderfully.

Especially since Sam and Tusker are such a believable couple. The depth of their relationship, the casual intimacy of everything they do – it is clear that they have been together forever, know each other perfectly and simply love each other. Firth and Tucci really are amazing in bringing the two of them to life.

The film takes a heavy topic and let’s you feel the weight. It doesn’t pretend that things are any lighter than they are. But it also makes sure that you know that this weight is bearable. It’s not easy, and you might have to bend and crack under it, but you don’t need to break. You will need to cry, though, and that’s quite alright, too.

In the end, loving someone doesn’t mean owning them, it means accompanying them along the road they are taking. Not necessarily without questioning the direction, but never keeping them from walking. That’s the kind of messsage I could take away from the film – and it’s a message I’ll gladly take.

Summarizing: wonderful.