‘Coda’, Tender Emotions in a Weak Script
MUHAMMED NOUSHAD reviews Coda, released in 2019.
An online meme on Coda (released in 2019; please do not mistake it for the Coda of 2021) was this: a casting director approaches veteran actor Patrick Stewart, offering a lead role in a romantic movie. Stewart dismisses the offer: “I am too old for that”. The casting director adds, “Katie Holmes is your partner”. Stewart smiles and nods, “I am in”. This pretty much makes sense when you see them together, with Katie’s luminous smiles sailing him through his tired grief and retired passion.
Coda, directed by Claude Lalonde, is not a great movie, to be frank. You may forget it easily, but when you watch it, it charms you with tender human emotions, including kindness and love, between an old man and a middle-aged woman, through the bond they develop. It’s not rare that we see professional relationships turning out to be personal bonds. Coda tells the story of a legendary pianist Henry, who had stopped playing the instrument for the last two years, ever since the passing of his wife. And when he eventually agrees to play it again, before an invited audience, he faces stage fright and emotional turmoil. It’s where journalist Helen (Katie) steps in and heals him.
The loss, loneliness, and recovery of the pianist are portrayed by the restrained and soulful performance of Stewart. And Katie Holmes has this enigmatic ability to soothe you through her consistent, radiant smile. And the dialogues she speaks are profound with metaphors, probably a little too ambitiously philosophical for this plot. The romantic scenes are adorned with poetic conversations rather than physical intimacy, except for a kissing scene, which I wished they had avoided so that the platonic potential of the bond remained intact. A kiss is a kiss, after all.
Although the loneliness of the pianist is pretty much felt, the script is weak. It does offer you good visuals and melodious music, but lacks conviction and closure. Impressively written dialogues and charismatic performances do not rescue the half-boiled plot of the movie.
