Tár: An Intriguing Psychological Drama
Tár Plot Synopsis
Tár is a captivating psychological drama that centers around the life of Lydia Tár, a remarkable female conductor of the renowned Berlin Philharmonic. The film takes us through her journey of triumph and despair, which begins when her ex-partner takes his own life. Portrayed by the brilliant Cate Blanchett, Lydia is at the pinnacle of her career, set to conduct the formidable Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, release a book, and hold a masterclass at Julliard. However, her success is juxtaposed with the harsh reality of being labeled a “gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss.”
The Enigmatic Follower
From the very start of the movie, Lydia notices a red-haired woman observing her conference and later standing outside her New Haven hotel. An anonymous individual then leaves a book, Vita Sackville-West’s ‘Challenge,’ at the front desk, implying a connection to the red-haired woman. Fascinatingly, the book contains a torn and discarded drawing of a pattern, reminiscent of Lydia’s thoughts about Krista, her now deceased ex-partner and redhead. Email communications from Krista further contribute to Lydia’s perplexity, yet when she encounters Krista in her piano room, it seems Krista may exist solely within Lydia’s guilty conscience. This notion becomes even more pronounced when a visibly deceased Krista is found sitting in Lydia’s bedroom, serving as the conductor’s haunting nightmare. Furthermore, Krista manipulates Lydia’s Wikipedia page by proclaiming herself as Lydia’s muse.
The Intruding Instagram Lives
Throughout the movie, we witness three instances of unauthorized individuals livestreaming on Lydia’s Instagram account, invading her personal space while ridiculing her. The first livestream occurs on a private jet while Lydia sleeps, evoking suspicion that Francesca, her assistant, might be behind it, as one comment alludes to a lingering love between them. The second livestream captures Lydia’s home while she is away, falsely replicating the style of another Spanish conductor, potentially implicating her partner, Sharon. Lastly, a stranger’s livestream taunts Lydia during her book launch, mocking her for mentioning divinity in light of the sexual allegations she faces. This portrayal highlights how celebrities, like Lydia, become deprived of privacy, receiving both hate from enemies and friends alike.
Lydia’s Curiosity about Olga
Despite having a loving relationship with her partner, Sharon, and a daughter together, Lydia finds herself entangled in affairs with younger musicians from her orchestra. When she first encounters Olga, a talented cellist, in the bathroom, her unwavering interest in her takes hold. Lydia seizes the opportunity to remove Sebastian, a senior chair, when he makes an unwanted suggestion, ultimately making way for Olga’s ascent. Initially, Lydia’s fascination with Olga appears to be rooted in a sexual desire, as she deceives Sharon about how she knows Olga. However, during rehearsals, Lydia’s infatuation with Olga becomes distracting, catching the attention of Sharon, who is also a violinist in the orchestra. Lydia goes as far as attempting to replace Francesca with Olga as her personal assistant, gaslighting those close to her to conceal her true intentions. She even persuades the orchestra to perform Olga’s favorite piece during the grand opening of Mahler’s The Five, causing shockwaves as she auditions for the coveted cello solo and discreetly grants it to Olga. While private rehearsals and affectionate gestures from Lydia become more frequent, Olga unexpectedly ignores Lydia’s presence and spends time with a young boy during her book launch.
The Enigmatic Sounds
Lydia experiences moments of auditory confusion throughout the film. When she visits her former apartment turned studio, she hears faint music, sparking doubt as she recreates the melody on a piano. During a jog, she hears eerie screams and in vain attempts to locate their origin. Once again, in her studio, Lydia is plagued by unsettling sounds, leaving her questioning the line between reality and her imagination. Krista’s book deepens her uncertainty, making her wonder if her ex-partner intended to torment her even after death. Following Krista’s passing, Lydia continues to hear sounds such as the metronome or the fridge humming in the middle of the night. The film intriguingly explores misphonia, a condition that heightens Lydia’s sensitivity to sounds, blurring the boundaries between what is real and what is created within her mind.
The Tragic Fate of Krista
Lydia, Krista, and Francesca once shared a close bond, but their relationship deteriorates when Krista makes certain demands that annoy Lydia. Krista is labeled disturbed by Lydia and subsequently blacklisted after their affair ends. Despite her father’s vigorous attempts to defend her during placement seasons, other orchestras heed Lydia’s warnings and reject Krista. Desperate, Krista sends numerous ignored emails to Lydia, culminating in the book she leaves as a final cry for help. The book contains a story of a woman threatening suicide following a heartbreak. It is later revealed that Krista attempted to seek help from Francesca to prevent Lydia from ostracizing her, according to Lydia’s instructions. After Krista’s tragic suicide at the age of 25, her accusations against Lydia, involving sexual relationships with students in return for favors, come to light.
A Tragic Downfall
Lydia’s descent begins with her isolation from the orchestra, Sharon, Sebastian, Francesca, and Andris, as she focuses on favoring Olga and pursuing a relationship with her. Krista’s accusations, mentioned in her suicide note, prompt Andris, Lydia’s mentor, to caution her that being accused of sexual misconduct holds grave consequences, likening it to being labeled a Nazi. Forced to prepare for her deposition as Krista’s parents pursue legal action, Lydia faces additional turmoil when Francesca resigns after being deceitfully promised the role of assistant conductor. A heated argument with Sharon ensues as her partner defends Francesca, leading Lydia to experience vivid nightmares of her past sexual encounters and metaphorically burning in her bed. While attempting to follow Olga, who left a toy in her car, Lydia is relentlessly chased by a dog, resulting in a fall and a significant injury to her right shoulder, which is crucial for a conductor. Amidst preparations for The Five, Lydia encounters an edited video of her Julliard masterclass, taken out of context to portray her as a predator, racist, and sexist. The orchestra informs her that Krista’s parents, members of the Accordion, are using the video to strengthen their claim that Lydia groomed students for sexual favors. Returning home, Lydia discovers that her score for The Five has vanished. The subsequent day, her deposition proves disastrous as the prosecution presents copies of Krista’s emails to Francesca, and she loses support from the Kaplan Fund. A protest mars her book launch, while social media users mock her, branding Olga as her new “plaything.” Ignoring her partner’s attempts to reach her, Lydia returns home to confront an enraged Sharon, who exposes Lydia’s lies and departs with their daughter. Consequently, her orchestra removes her as their conductor just prior to the Mahler performance. Seeking a fresh start, Lydia relocates to her childhood home, supported by her agency’s advice. Here, she reunites with her brother, Tony, who accuses her of concealing her true identity, unveiling that she was born as Linda Tarr in Staten Island. Eventually, Lydia settles in the Philippines, taking on the role of a substitute conductor. The film concludes with Lydia conducting an orchestra during a live performance of the theme song from the video game Monster Hunter, with an audience comprised of enthusiastic fans and cosplayers.