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Maestro, released in 2023 and produced by Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, alongside Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Fred Berner et Amy Durning, delves into the biography of Leonard Bernstein, confronting the scandals of his era while eschewing moral judgment. The film, directed, co-written (alongside Josh Singer), co-produced and starred in by Bradley Cooper, offers a nuanced portrayal of Bernstein’s life.
The film Maestro chronicles the lives of Leonard and Felicia across four decades, from the 1940s to the 1980s. Bradley Cooper endeavors to narrate the entire love story of Leonard and Felicia, portrayed by Carey Mulligan, from their initial meeting to Felicia’s eventual demise. It is a tumultuous love story of two tormented artists a musician and an actress, during which Leonard Bernstein never relinquished his bisexuality.
Characterized by its dynamic shifts in screen format and color, including transitions to black and white, Maestro echoes the stylistic choices of period films. The movie’s use of long takes magnifies the impact of its key scenes. One notable scene, a waltz concert, is captured with a moving camera that dances along with the swirling music notes inside a cathedral. Conversely, a domestic scene between Lenny Bernstein and his wife, filmed with a fixed camera, intensifies the interpersonal dynamics. In his performance, Bradley Cooper maintains authenticity, adeptly charting Bernstein’s evolution.
As a director, Cooper makes a masterful choice, placing love and music at the heart of his films. After positioning Lady Gaga at the center of his first film as a director and actor, A Star is Born, he deliberately takes a calculated risk of immersing himself fully in the role of Bernstein in “Maestro.” His tool? The music of Leonard Bernstein himself.
The film raises philosophical questions about biographical representation: can one ever truly and accurately replicate a biography? Do we ever fully understand the nuances of a person’s life? Can deep exploration into the layers of an individual’s memories offer profound insights? Is it possible to analyze a life through an alternate lens, a third eye, and then recreate it on the big screen? What constitutes a complete biography, especially when it concerns someone as complex as Leonard Bernstein?
In Maestro, Bradley Cooper finds intimate human connections and lives experiences within the vast scope of his subject, focusing on a man whose destiny is set in motion by a transformative phone call.
Marie-Christine Tayah
Instagram: @mariechristine.tayah
