The Song of Names


The Song of Names is a 2019 drama film directed by François Girard. An adaptation of the novel of the same name by Norman Lebrecht, it stars Tim Roth and Clive Owen as childhood friends from London whose lives have been changed by World War II. The film was nominated for nine Canadian Screen Awards, winning five.

Plot

In Europe, during World War II, Martin, a nine-year-old boy, takes a liking to his new adopted brother, Dovidl. Dovidl is a miracle violin player of his age, and has just arrived in London as a refugee. After a few years, before giving a concert at age 21, Dovidl disappears without a trace, bringing shame and ruin to his adoptive family. Years later, when Martin is 56 years old, a young violinist shows a style that only Dovidl could have taught.

Cast

The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.

Reception

states, "The Song of Names is made from intriguing ingredients, but they never quite coalesce into a drama that satisfies the way it should."
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 35% approval rating based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 5.38/10.

Accolades

At the 8th Canadian Screen Awards The Song of Names tied with Antigone for most wins, with five.
AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientResult
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Best Art Direction / Production DesignFrançois Séguin and Pierre Perrault
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Best Costume DesignAnne Dixon
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Best HairMichelle Coté, Péter Gyongyosi and Erzsébet Racz
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Best MakeupFanny Vachon
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Best Original ScoreHoward Shore
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Best Original SongHoward Shore, "The Song of Names "
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Best Overall SoundClaude La Haye, Bernard Gariépy Strobl, Mark Appleby and Daniel Bisson
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Best Sound EditingFrancine Poirier, Claude Beaugrand, Michel B. Bordeleau, Raymond Legault, Lise Wedlock and Natalie Fleurant
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Best Visual EffectsMarc-Antoine Rousseau
Canadian Society of Cinematographers16 July 2020Best Theatrical Feature CinematographyDavid Franco
Prix Iris10 June 2020Best SoundClaude Beaugrand, Michel B. Bordeleau, Bernard Gariépy Strobl, Claude La Haye, Raymond Legault
Prix Iris10 June 2020Best Original MusicHoward Shore
Prix Iris10 June 2020Best HairstylingMichelle Coté
Prix Iris10 June 2020Best Visual EffectsAlain Lachance, Jean-Pierre Riverin