Coda

Released Jan 31, 2020

1h 36m

Drama

List

62%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

55%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

A famous pianist who is struggling with stage fright late in his career finds inspiration with a free-spirited music critic.

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Douglas G

This is the story of the classical pianist who grapples with stage fright. He's helped by a young reporter from the New Yorker magazine. Themes from Nietzsche's philosophy structure the film. There is a little dialogue. At best, you could call contemplative. At worst. youcan call it slow, moving, especially during the last half. Nietzsche's philosophy gives no meaning to life, despite the film's tropes on that theme.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/03/23

Full Review

Stephen D

Familiarity with the life and writing of Friedrich Nietzsche enhances the understanding and enjoyment of this sophisticated drama. The name "coda" itself mocks the eternal return discovery of Nietzsche since there is no ending, only recurrence. The music of a life starts, then stops and then can start again, following a relentless score, those thousand notes going up and down, up and down forever. A river runs on down the valley, gyring and rippling forever. A giant boulder—Earth itself—cannot stop the water. The boulder on the lake in Sils Maria is at rest, staying, with all its might resisting the eternal return of pain and torment, the piano music of the tortured pianist and human life. Henry Cole wants to stop playing but is tricked by his muse to stay with the music, so beautiful and alluring, trapping him forever. The film is thoroughly Nietzschean, profound, philosophical and sad. Also beautiful and accomplished art.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/07/23

Full Review

Daniel P

A dark, even bleak film. Poignant. But great performances, beautiful scenery and a fantastic score. When you are ready to handle melancholy, this is the film for you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/16/23

Full Review

David C

(Life With Music - UK) A sombre, and considered study of a Pianist at the end of his career, who is coming to terms with varied life events and the passing of time, mostly being explored by way of an Interview with a Music critic and lifelong fan. Its wistful prose and exquisite recitals aren't enough to elevate this to the heights it hopes to reach

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Alejandra G

Really touching and an Ode to beauty of life. The score is incredible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/08/23

Full Review

ellen j

A visually beautiful movie that reaches for profundity and doesn't achieve it. A little too leisurely and indirect for my taste--as if the director is afraid to offend the audience's delicate sensibilities. One tragic event that could have added texture and vitality is so attenuated that the viewer can barely tell anything happened.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Claude Lalonde

Director

Patrick Stewart

Henry Cole

Katie Holmes

Helen Morrison

Giancarlo Esposito

Paul

Drew Davis

Daniel

Catherine St-Laurent

Jessie

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

Despite the fact that the characters are perpetually jaunting off to the Swiss Alps and other romantic haut-bourgie locations, this is one of those films where nothing much seems to happen at all.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 6, 2020

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

Coda is a great-looking film, filled with dagger-sharp dialogue, wonderful performances and, as you'd expect, a wondrous and heavenly score, courtesy of Bach and Beethoven, Chopin and Schubert.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 3, 2020

Full Review

John DeFore

Hollywood Reporter

No single event is fatally implausible, perhaps, but taken together it doesn't ring true.

Jan 31, 2020

Full Review

Justine Smith

Cult MTL

Coda keeps things simple where and when it counts.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 13, 2023

Full Review

Chris Knight

National Post

Narratively simple, Coda is nonetheless a treat for the senses.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 3, 2022

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

An engaging, low-key drama.

Rated: B

Feb 14, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

A famous pianist who is struggling with stage fright late in his career finds inspiration with a free-spirited music critic.

Director: Claude Lalonde
Screenwriter: Louis Godbout
Production Co: 1976 Productions, Clinamen Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 31, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 29, 2020
Runtime: 1h 36m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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