Supernova

By Mark Morellini

The reality of dementia is depicted in this powerful and highly emotional gay-themed tearjerker that stars Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci delivering absolute career-best performances.

Suffering from dementia middle-aged Tusker (Tucci) is on a road trip holiday with his loving partner Sam (Firth), possibly their final holiday together as dementia slowly consumes Tusker’s life.

“I’m not the guy he fell in love with, I just look like him,” confides Tusker to a friend. “I want to be remembered for who I was.”

Intertwined with themes concerning love, courage, intimacy, and the difficulty in saying goodbye lies the overwhelming atmosphere of hopelessness welcomingly overshadowed at times with patches of funny dialogue that deviate from imminent heartache.

The importance of time resonates throughout this beautifully written tragedy complemented by deep and heart-wrenching dialogue such as, “I’m soon going to look at you not knowing who is looking back at me,” leaving audiences tearful.

Mesmerising cinematography captures the beauty and magnificent colours of English landscapes, but darkness ultimately falls in the final scenes as audiences are left pondering whether individuals inflicted with terminal illnesses should have the right to end their own lives with dignity.

One of the year’s best films not to be missed!

★★★★ ½