Swan Song

source: Swan Song

Very poetic, colourful, sad and uplifting at the same time. Not without shortcomings, too slow at times, but real and heart breaking. Great to see Jennifer Coolidge in a more down to earth part, without that silly voice of hers. 10 for story and effort.

"Swan Song" is a low-budget slice-of-geriatric-life done by an unaccomplished writer/director/producer. It vibrates slowly between sad and boring - do not be duped by the overenthusiastic reviews here. Go watch an episode of "Golden Girls" if you're drawn to this topic, at least you'll have a laugh or two for its half-hour. Seriously, this is a downer story guys.

There is much to recommend this movie: moments of absurd, tender, unexpected humor, the brilliance of Udo Kier, and the concept itself. Otoh, I found myself at times thinking that the director was culturally appropriating the very culture he is a part of. Some tiresome, cringe inducing bits about drag queens and a talk with an old friend on a bench that try way too hard. But those are really minor quibbles. This is a brilliant piece of work.

I rarely write reviews, but this was such a brilliantly acted and written film, it was beautiful.

This was a beautiful movie. Loved it! It was a wild ride but I really enjoyed every minute of it. It is obvious that this movie was made with so much love and respect. Udo Kier is magnificent as Pat!

It's very talented slow burn indie movie with its own tone of voice. It's not for everyone, so I do understand some negative review as this movie is special. But I am happy that This masterpiece made me and other viewers to cry and smile, really thankful creators for such touching and truly bright blue movie.

Kudos and blessings on Todd Stephens and Udo Kier for making an absolutely perfect movie. Acting, writing, casting, cinematography, editing, set design, costumes, soundtrack, music selections (two Shirleys.....Bassey AND Horn) and directing... it's all perfect. (The scene with Pat treating his fellow resident to a makeover brings to mind the scene in All That Jazz when Joe comforts a fellow hospital patient, and tops it.) Go. See. Laugh. Cry. Enjoy.

This little film seems to be a love letter to someone, but I don't know to whom. Certainly not to me. I'm tired of Pat after 1 hour. I don't see the humor in it. I don't see the sweetness. I just see a very sad solipsistic old man with cloudy watery blue eyes and I have other things to do.

An eldergay has fallen on hard times in Sandusky, Ohio. His partner died of AIDS before SSM, and he had no legal rights to the home he had built with him. His partner's death caused him to lose the toney customers at his hair salon. And, as one of the few survivors of the AIDS pandemic, he is alone and lonely in a nursing home. He waits for death with the other elderly outcasts in his town. A kind and compassionate Todd Stephens listened to one man's sad story and gave Udo Kier the role of a lifetime. It would have been easy to play this movie as broad comedy, making all the characters black and white. But the movie isn't drawn in broad strokes. Every detail, down to the Vivante shampoo and migrating hat flowers, is perfectly considered. Watch it with your favorite frenemy,