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An award-winning host has criticized Cate Blanchett’s new Oscar-winning film, saying she thinks it is an “offensive” portrayal of a life similar to her own.
Marin Alsop, 66, has hit Tár, directed by Todd Field, which portrays the life of narcissistic director and composer Lydia Tár. Blanchett plays the main character who is fictional; however, after reading about the film, Marin states that there are “superficial aspects” about the protagonist that she recognized from her own life.
Stating that the film’s play on ‘pseudo-reality’ was ‘slightly dangerous’, he added that viewers might not be able to tell the difference between actual depictions and fictional aspects.
His criticism follows confusion over the film’s true basis after the production company clarified that its leading lady, Lydia Tár, was a fictional character (despite having her own Wikipedia page for a short time).
Talking with him sunday timeAlsop criticized the presentation of Tár as an ‘untouchable genius’ and a narcissist who berates and humiliates those around her.
In one scene, Blanchett’s character taunts a young student with whom she disagrees, and throughout the film, she uses her sexuality to manipulate and control her assistant.
For the real-life conductor, her rise through the ranks has not been easy and required a lot of hard work, and to this day she remains one of the only conductors of the best orchestras in the world.
World-famous conductor Marin Alsop (pictured) has criticized Blanchett’s anti-hero character for playing on “dangerous” stereotypes about female conductors and women in leadership positions.
Cate Blanchett (pictured) stars as director, composer and author Lydia Tár in a new psychological thriller
Alsop, born in the United States, was the first woman to win the Koussevitzky Prize for directing and was the first person to receive the MacArthur Fellowship.
Currently working as Music Director Laureate of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, she studied at Yale University and the Julliard School of Music.
In the recent interview, Alsop revealed how misogyny had dogged her throughout her career as she rose through the ranks of the music world.
Reflecting on her struggle to achieve success as a woman in a male-dominated industry, Alsop described herself as an “optimist” and also a “realist.”
She said: “I’ve seen progress and then regression many, many times.”
In 2002, she created her own scholarship for female directors, the Taki Alsop program.
Cate Blanchett (pictured) plays a controlling, abusive and exploitative narcissistic anti-hero in the new film.
According to New York Times critic Zachary Woolfe, Blanchett’s Tár is ‘clearly based’ in part on Alsop (pictured)
‘My original motivation was probably trying to even the playing field a bit. But it has become much more of a resource for others, a community,” he said, adding that it had become a kind of “network”.
Alsop’s work to create a supportive community of women within the space is perhaps why she is so angry with Blanchett’s portrayal of a female conductor in Tár.
Lydia Tár’s character dismisses the idea of women-only scholarships, arguing that they are not necessary in an era of gender equality.
She said the filmmakers had been given the chance to portray a woman in a role they rarely take on in real life and instead of making her inspirational, she accused them of making her “an abuser”.
Adding the character of Lydia Tár was “heartbreaking”, she argued that it could lead people to question the suitability of women to hold leadership positions in society.
Although the film portrays a fictional character, Alsop’s name is mentioned within the first 30 minutes, and New York Times critic Zachary Woolfe has claimed that the film is “clearly” based on the real-life director.
Another source of confusion stems from the fact that the movie is shot in a documentary/drama style and stars several musicians who appear as themselves.
Alsop noted several similarities between her and Tár, including that they were both protégés of Leonard Bernstein, both are lesbians, and both teach at music conservatories.
However, Alsop insists that he was not involved in the production of Tár.
When Alsop first heard about the film, he said he was concerned about the director’s performance.
“Once I saw it, I no longer worried, I was offended: they offended me as a woman, they offended me as a director, they offended me as a lesbian,” she said.
- Tár is in theaters starting Friday, January 13.
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