The Song of Names

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2:07

The Song of Names

PG-13

2019

1h 53m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

39%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

A child befriends a Polish violin prodigy whose parents leave him in his family's care. The two boys become like brothers until the musician disappears. Forty years later, he gets his first clue as to what happened to his childhood best friend.

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Critics Consensus

The Song of Names is made from intriguing ingredients, but they never quite coalesce into a drama that satisfies the way it should.

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Adam Graham

Detroit News

A payoff is coming - you know it from the film's opening credits, or its poster - but it takes so long to reveal itself that when it does, it can't help but feel anticlimactic.

Rated: C

Jan 31, 2020

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Barbara VanDenburgh

Arizona Republic

Far from heightening the sense of mystery, the flashback construction renders the present-day dramatically inert, giving fine actors little to do save deliver exposition.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 3, 2020

Full Review

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

There's a mystery at the heart of "The Song of Names," but it isn't much of a mystery, and once it's solved, the movie loses what little interest it has.

Rated: 2/4

Dec 31, 2019

Full Review

Juan Pablo Russo

EscribiendoCine

... A film adaptation that takes the scenes from the pages of the book, but loses their emotion. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Jan 10, 2023

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

A handsome, yet somewhat dreary historical drama that does not hit the emotional notes it needs to succeed.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 30, 2021

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

If you understand these roots, or even simply resonate with them, then you will be more likely to be able to fill in the gaps left by Caine's script.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 24, 2020

Full Review

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Nancy S

I thought it was fabulous

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/03/20

Full Review

Ruth

Powerful story, beautiful music. Absolutely recommend!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/20

Full Review

Ellin S

Good story, Loved the scenery and the scenes of London.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/20

Full Review

Eileen M O

Terrific movie! Great story line, acting, scenery, set designs, costumes!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/20

Full Review

Sonya W

Good story line. Would like to know if the song of names is true about the remembrance from concentration.camp. More movies need to be told to insure the events from this horrible war are NEVER forgotten.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/20

Full Review

Daniel C

Classic story line, great acting!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/20

Full Review

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François Girard

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The Song of Names: Trailer 1

2:07

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Synopsis

A child befriends a Polish violin prodigy whose parents leave him in his family's care. The two boys become like brothers until the musician disappears. Forty years later, he gets his first clue as to what happened to his childhood best friend.

Director: François Girard
Producer: Nick Hirschkorn, Lyse Lafontaine, Robert Lantos
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Caine, Norman Lebrecht
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Serendipity Point Films, Lyla Films
Rating: PG-13 (Smoking|Brief Sexual Material|Some Strong Language|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 24, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 53m

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