Almost sixty years after they first performed Beckett’s Endgame Andre Gregory decides to direct and film excerpts from the play featuring his long-time friends Gerry Bamman , who has severe mobility issues and Larry Pine, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s and memory Issues. They are only filming the parts of the play featuring Ham and Clov.
What started for me as a goof, becames a crushing examination of the end of life. Yes, the film is one of the more brilliant dissections of the play that I’ve seen in recent years, but the weight of the play is in how life and the play merge. There is a majesty and glory to continuing the good fight, which everyone on screen is aware is coming to a close sooner than later. This is an examination of life’s endgame.
I was staggered. I still am. As someone who is very aware of my mortality and aware that I only have a brief time left, I could feel what I was seeing on screen in my soul. The plays portrait of people still living despite the world ending speaks volumes about not giving up. For me watching Larry be better when working and knowing that Andre came alive when directing spoke volumes about our need not to slow down or stop because society and the calendar says we should. We must remain engaged at all times and not become lumps on a couch.
I don’t know how this film is going to work for those in their 20’s or 30’s, but anyone who is older or who has limited time left is going to be rocked. I was so rocked that I babbled at the PR person trying to get my thoughts. I wanted to politely tell her that I had no words because I was broken and shattered in the best sort of way and that I was too busy to say anything simple, like its good.
This is not to say the film is tragic, simply that it is very bittersweet as we watch several friends walking boldly and with heads held high into the good night.
I am not doing this film justice-maybe later- I need more time to sit with it and ponder.
This film is a masterpiece.
As I said after the film, I had seen 20 something features for NYFF when I saw this and its only one of two that I would recommend or want to see again.
Highly Recommended
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