PROJECT SUBMISSION PACK

FILM: Song of Names

DATE:

January 2011

1. Submission Form p2

2. Information Pack p3

3. Finance p13

4. Sales Estimates p14

5. Letters of Intent & Deal Memo’s p17

6. Script Report p29

7. Script p32

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PROJECT TITLE: DATE: 12.1.11

The Song of Names

APPLICANT DETAILS APPLICANT CONTACT DETAILS NAME: Nick Hirschkorn POSITION: Producer

ADDRESS: 4 Market Place, London W1W 8AD

COMPANY Feel Films TEL: 020 7612 0666

EMAIL: nick@feelme.co.uk PROJECT DETAILS

BUDGET: €13,500,000 PRODUCER/S: (If different to above)

Nick Hirschkorn, Jens Meurer, Dave Valleau, Gilles Waterkeyn

WRITER: Jeffrey Caine GENRE: Drama

PRODUCTION COMPANIES & NATIONALITY:

UMedia - Belgium New Century-Poland Foundation Features - Canada

NAME CREDITS (1 or 2) Approached Confirmed

DIRECTOR Vadim Perelman House of Sand and Fog, The Life Before Her Eyes

CAST 1 Anthony Hopkins Remains of the Day, Shadowlands CAST 2 Dustin Hoffman Rain Man, Kramer Vs Kramer CAST 3 CAST 4

SHOOTING SCHEDULE – Prep, Principal, Post, delivery SHORT SYNOPSIS / LOGLINE Prep - 28/02/10 Principle - 2/05/11 Post - 30/06/2011 Delivery - 30/12/2011

Adaptation of the Whitbread Prize Winning novel about the quest to find a missing violin prodigy forty years after his disappearance. A story about friendship, betrayal, art and faith and the far reaching impact of the holocaust.

FINANCE DETAILS FINANCIER NATURE OF INVESTMENT AMOUNT £ % BUDGET Proposed Approached Confirmed

See attached Finance Plan

Stakeholder % Premiere Corridor

1st 2nd

BOND IFG

3rd 4th

AUDITOR

Proposed recoupment schedule for all financiers:

5th

SALES INFORMATION SALES AGENT: West End Films SALES ESTIMATES CONTACT: Eve Schoukroun LOW: US$6,703,000 TEL: 020 7494 8300 MEDIUM: US$8,359,000 EMAIL: HIGH: US$9,722,000 TERRITORY DISTRIBUTOR MG RIGHTS Canada E1 $500,000 All Benelux UMedia $300,000 All see list COPRODUCTIONS COUNTRY % SPEND DETAILS Belgium 40 20% UK/USA Poland 10 Canada 20

WrittenbyJeffreyCaineFromtheWhitbreadPrizewinningnovelbyNormanLeBrechtDirector:VadimPerelmanWriter:JeffreyCaineProducer:NickHirschkornDoP:PawelEdelmanComposer:JamesHornerCast:AnthonyHopkins,DustinHoffman

Song Names

TheA#ilmadaptationofNormanLebrecht’sWhitbread

Prizewinningnovel,acompellingstoryaboutart,

faith,friendshipandbetrayal,andoneman’squest

forredemption,amidthefarreachingimpactofthe

holocaust.

Ahigh­enddramawithOscarwinningtalent.

of

Synopsis

MartinSimmondsofSimmondsMusicManuscripts1indshimselfon the jury of a music recital competition in a nondescriptEnglishtown.Aworldwearymaninhislatesixties,heenduresthemediocritybeingparadedbeforehim in the formof theseyounghopefuls. Then, in oneheart stoppingmoment a youngboyplaystheviolin,withanunmistakeable1lourishofhisrosin,whichwillchangeMartin’slifeforever.

TwoboysgrewupinwartimeLondon.OnewasMartin,alonelyswottishonlychild.TheotherDovidl,abrilliantyoungrefugeeviolinistfromWarsaw.Blood‐brothers,theyroamedtheruinedcity, 1inding tragedy and triumph in thedark sideofwar‐tornLondon.Itwasthetimeoftheirlives.WhenDovidldisappearedontheafternoonofhisinternationaldebut,Martin’sfamilywereleftbankruptandbereft.Martin’sfatherdiedofgriefandMartinwascondemnedtoalifeinlimbo,neverknowingwhathappened,nevergettingoutfromtheshadowofthisexceptionalchildwhohadruledhisyouth.

Ataleoffriendshipandultimatebetrayalbegins,Martin’shuntfor his long lost friendborders on obsession. Theunexpectedmusicalcluesetshimoffonatrailofselfdiscoveryandaquestforrenewal,touncoverthetragedywhichdestroyedhisfamilyandlefthimlivingwhatheconsideredtobeahalf‐life, forthelastfortyyears.

When Martin 1inally 1inds the man whose disappearance hasblightedhiswholeexistence,he is 1loored.Dovidl, themanhenow1indsfortyyearson,isanenigma,awalkingcontradictionofartvsfaith,madnessvsgenius.Theworldsgreatestviolinistthat never was, a sel1ish savant who deprived the world andtheSimmondsfamilyofhisowntalent.Martin’snewchallengeishowtotakeonthismanwhowasoncehisbrother,and1indclosure.

AbouttheBook

‘Complex…oftentragic…anunusuallyimpressive1irstnovel’Spectator

‘Theatmosphereofwartimeandtheaftermathisconjuredwithexceptionalvividness…TheSongofNameshasacompellinghumanity’LondonEveningStandard

‘Consistentlyintriguing…crucialandmoving’TheSundayTimes

‘Avividandoutstandingstorythatsingsaboutartistry,genius,music,love,envy,friendship,andrevenge.’Booklist(starredreview)

‘Notjustabrilliant1irstnovel,butabrilliantnovel‐thought‐provoking,lyricalandprofound’TheWhitbreadJudges

‘Theatmosphereofwartimeandtheaftermathisconjuredwithexceptionalvividness...TheSongofNameshasacompellinghumanity’LondonEveningStandard,August19,2002

‘Awittyandpacyaccountofgeniusanditscosts’Independent,January8,2003

KeyPeople

NickHirschkornProducer

AftermanyyearsrunningasuccessfulLondonbasedcommercialscompany,Hirschkornproducedhis1irstfeatureFiveChildren&It.The1ilmwasa$20mproductionstarringKennethBranagh,EddieIzzardandFreddieHighmorewitheffectsfromJimHenson’sCreatureShop,whichpremieredwithagalascreeningatTorontoFilmFestival.Followingthat,Nickstartedafeature1ilmdevelopmentslatefocussingonliteraryadaptations.HerecentlyproducedafeatureversionofDavidAlmondsCarnegieAwardwinningfamilyfantasynovelSkelligstarringTimRoth,KellyMacdonald,BillMilnerand JohnSimm.UpcomingprojectsinadditiontoTheSongofNamesincludeSusanFletcher’sWhitbreadPrizewinnerEveGreenwhichwillbewrittenanddirectedbyDominicSavage.AlsoamajorTVseriesoftheinternationalbest‐sellingbookJonathanStrange&MrNorrellfortheBBC.

VadimPerelmanDirector

VadimPerelmanwasbornintheUkraineandmovedtotheUSattheageof16.Followingasuccessfulcareerasacommercialsdirector,Perelmanmadehisfeaturedebutin2003with the intense and thought provoking dramaHouse of Sand and Fog starring BenKingsleyandJenniferConnelly.The1ilmwasnominatedforaraftofawardsincludingthreeAcademyAwards,twoCriticsChoiceAwards,anIndependentSpiritAwardanda Golden Globe, and also marked his 1irst screenplay credit. Perelman followed upwiththeTheLifeBeforeHerEyesstarringUmaThurmanandEvanRachelWoodwhichpremieredattheTorontoFilmFestival.

JensMeurerGermanCo‐Producer

JensMeurerisoneofGermany’sleadingproducers,heandhisproductioncompanyEgoliTossellhavebeen responsible for someof thebiggestproductionsoutofGermany inrecentyears.In2009his1ilmaboutLeoTolstoyTheLastStationstarringHelenMirrenachievedcriticalacclaimandmultipleawardsnominationsincludingtwoOscarsandtwoGoldenGlobes.HisotherrecentcreditsincludeBlackDeathstarringHughBonneville&SeanBean,andCarloswhichscreenedattheCannesFilmFestival2010.

DaveValleauCanadianCo‐Producer

DaveValleauandFoundationFeaturesareleadingCanadianproducers.CreditsincludeTerry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Push the critically acclaimedthrillerdirectedbyPaulMcGuiganstarringDakotaFanning,andEntitledwithRayLiotta.InhispreviousincarnationatIn1inityheworkedonvarioushighpro1iletitlesincludingCapote.

JeffreyCaine­ScreenwriterWriter

ForhiscriticallyacclaimedscreenplayTheConstantGardenerJeffreywasnominatedforanOscar,aBafta,aWGAAwardandaBIFAamongstnumerousotherplaudits.Afterasuccessfulcareerwritingfortelevision,thebond1ilmGoldeneyemarkedhis1irstforayintofeatures.HehasmostrecentlybeencommissionedtowritethenewPeterPanmoviePeterPaninScarlet.Hisothercreditsinclude,PurpleMountain,InsideI’mDancing,andAnUnsuitableJobforaWoman.

NormanLeBrechtNovelist

NormanisoneoftheUK’sleadingartswritersandholdstherespectedpostofCulturalEditorfortheEveningStandardnewspaperinLondon.Hehaswrittentenfactualbooksabout classical music. The Song of Names was his 1irst novel for which he won theprestigiousWhitbreadPrizeandhehas sincepublisheda secondnovelTheGameofOpposites.Normanwillcontinuetobringhisclassicalmusicexpertiseasaconsultantonthe1ilm.

PawelEdelmanDirectorofPhotography

PawelisaPolishDPwhohasworkedwithVadimbeforeonTheLifeBeforeHerEyes.HeisalsoresponsibleforthestarkandhauntingdepictionofWarsawinPolanski’sholocaust1ilmThePianistwhichgarneredhimanOscarandBaftanominationamongstaraftofotherplaudits.HehassinceworkedwithPolanskiagainonOliverTwistandTheGhostWriter.Otherhighpro1ilecreditsincludeRay,KatynandAllTheKingsMen.

JamesHornerComposer

JamesHorner’sscore for themassive internationalboxof1icesuccessAvatarwas themost recent in a long list of credits to earn him anOscar nomination.Horner couldpossiblybedescribedasthebiggestandmostlaudedcomposercurrentlyworkingin1ilm.HeattachedtothisprojectearlyonhavingworkedwithVadimPerelmanontwoprevious1ilms,thetwohaveacloseworkingrelationshipwhichwillproveinvaluabletothisprojectwhichhasmusicatitsheart.HisOscarnominationsincludeTitanic(forwhichhewon),Alien,Braveheart,Apollo13andFieldofDreams,ABeautifulMind.HehaswonGoldenGlobes,Grammy’sandcountlessotherawards,andintotalcomposedthescoreforoverahundred1ilms,toomanytomentionherebutincludingTheBoyinStripedPyjamas,LegendsoftheFall,TheNameofTheRose,ThePerfectStormandmanyothersuccessfulandcriticallyacclaimed1ilms.

AnthonyHopkins

AnthonyHopkinsisoneofourbestlovedandmostreveredactors.Overthecourseofhis longcareerhehasgarnered37awardswins includinganOscar, andanother30nominations.HeisperhapsmostrespectedforhisbrilliantunderstatedperformancesinTheRemainsoftheDay,Shadowlands,LegendsoftheFall,TheElephantManandmanyothers,andmostfamousforhischillingportrayalofHannibalLectorinTheSilenceofTheLambs.

DustinHoffman

DustinHoffmanisprobablythebiggestUSstarofhisgeneration.HeshottofameatayoungagewithastonishingperformancesinTheGraduate,KramerVsKramer,MidnightCowboyandTootsie.Hehasstarredinover1ifty1ilmswontwoOscars(forRainMan,andKramerVsKramer)withanother46awardswinsand20furthernominations.Hehasalreadystartedstudyingwitharenownedviolinteachertoprepareforhisroleinthis1ilm.

Cast

WestEndFilms

WestEndFilms is oneof theUKs leading International SalesAgentswithstrongrelationshipswithandahistoryofsellingtodistributorsineveryterritory.ItwassetupbySharonHarel,EveSchoukrounandMayaAmsellem all formerly of Capitol Films. In their incarnation asCapitolFilmsthey1inancedandsoldmajor1ilmssuchasGosfordPark,TheEdgeofLove,andSylvia.TheircurrenttitlesincludeStephenFrears’Tamara Drewe and Hideo Nakata’s Chatroom both of whichwere intheof1icialselectionatthisyear’sCannesFilmFestival.TheyarealsosellingthecriticallyacclaimedMother&ChildstarringNaomiWattsandAnnetteBenning,andTheDisappearanceofAliceCreedstarringGemmaArterton.TheyhaverecentlyacquiredWoodyAllen’sbackcataloguetoaddtotheirlibrary.WestEndFilmsarehandlinginternationalsalesonTheSongofNames.

E1

OneofthemaindistributorsinCanadaE1havealreadypre‐boughtthe1ilm.Thecompanyisanexperienceddistributorof 1ilmsat this level,andholdstheCanadiandistributionrightstoadiverserangeoftitlesfrom Summit Entertainment, IFC, Yari Film Group, Fortissimo Films,LakeshoreEntertainment andCineticMedia; includingmost recentlyMichael Winterbottom’s The Killer Inside Me, Jean‐Pierre Jeunet’sMicMacs,AtomEgoyen’sChloe,HarryBrown,andthesuccesfulTwilight1ilmNewMoon.

NickHillInternationalDistributionConsultantIndustryveteran,ManagingDirectoratCapitolFilmsandbeforethatatIcon,NickHillhasactedassalesconsultantonthisprojectworkingcloselywithNickHirschkornandHannahLeadertobringinpresalesfor1inancing.

HannahLeaderHeadofBusinessAffairs‐FeelFilmsHannahwasoneofthethreeheadsofthehugelysuccessfulinternationalsalesagentCapitolFilmsresponsiblethe1inancinganddistributionforsuch1ilmsasRobertAltman’sGosfordPark.Hannahisapioneeringexpertatindependent1ilm1inancestructuresandco‐productionsandisworkingin‐houseatFeelFilmstostructurethe1inanceforSongofNames,havingdonethesameonourlastproductionSkellig.AswellasGosfordParkherExecutive Producer credits includeThe Edge of Love, Before The DevilKnowsYou’reDead,LuckyNumberSlevin,Spider.

DistributionandFinancing

Finance plan Canada:

from Telefilm C$1,500,000 Canadian Rights – E1 Entertainment US$500,000

Canadian Tax Credits – C$560,000 Harold Greenberg Fund C$200,000

Belgium: Belgium subsidy €300,000 Belgium Equity U Media €2,559,976 Poland

Equity – New Century Arts US$3,000,000 Deferments €213,115

UK Equity – Premiere/Eurimage US$1,200,000 Union Bank of California

against sales and gap US$3,000,000 EMI Music (together with Cutting Edge) US$200,000

Deferments Director US$450,000 Writer Novel US$80,000 Development US$192,000 Hoffman US$500,000 Hopkins US$500,000 Producer (Hirschkorn) US$450,000 Investor (NCA) US$600,000 Production Fee US$300,000 Overheads US$228,000

Composer US$200,000

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V.dimkftilrnanAnthony Hopldnc -Dustin Hoftnan

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Nick HirshkornFd Films(by ernail)

WESTENO FILMS LLP15 Greek StreetLondon WlD 4DPTr +44 (0)207 494 83*0F: +44 {0)207 494 8301wwr*.westendfilms.com

Film:Diretor:Producers:CascBudgecFormaeDdivery DateTerritory:Term:

Sales Fees:

RE:SONGOF NAII{ES

Subica to Contract - Private and Confidcntial

Dear Nick,

Following the various conversations we had, we would like o thank you first ofallfor thinkingofus for the prolect SongofNames.

We loved the script and we think that Anthony Hopkins in the lead role is a greatchoice which, combind with Vadim Perelman's alent a nd your experience wouldmake that proi..t o.tl' interesting.

I am setting below the offer on dre basis of which WestEnd would be appointd as thesales agent for the film.

..SONGOF NAMES"VadimPerelmanNick HirshkornAnthony Hopkins, Dustin Hoffinan.usf 17,000,00035mm -colourTBN-expced May20llWorld excluding Berdux, Germany, Canada20 years (with an automaticer(srsion for 5 years unlessotherwisenotified by producer) sartingon delivery andaccepta$ce.

First Cycle Sale:': l2.5Vo in the Major Territorie (beingFrance, Italy, Spain, UI! USA and fapan) rnd l5/o in allrernaining territories,

wtsTi l t0 r tLi l r r ip i r rHlTr0 trABruiy pARrNtRsN'tRE0isTtRtD i i l t f {6rAr10 At iD vArEs 0c3J75i6 R!SrsTrsiD 0Fi lc€ ac0Rass l5 6ntrx sr r0t00i l f t10 lDP

DistributionEipeases:

Credits:

Rights:

$aoad Cycle Salcs including telwision sales: 307o

We will agre tadeferZSVo afour sales commission (and

drerefore be p aid lAVo in lvfaior Territories and l2'5Vo in

the other territories) until thebank involvd in thefinancing ofthe film by providing gap finance and thediscouat of presales) has ben repaid.

to beadvand by WestEnd and recouped from grossr€6eipts,caPped atf,l25,000 (excludinga Markeing Fee of€10,000) except for extraordinary e:(Penses and delivery coststo a US Dstributor. For the avoidana ofdoubt all cpensesouside thc Cap shall be pre-approved by the producer'

Crditin theform Worldwide Sales by WESTENDFILMS and logoon all paid ads aod in the end creditoftheF ikn. WestEnd's animated logo to be includd on the ftontofthefilm.

All disuibution rights in any mdia toWestEnd

RecoupmentSchedule

All Grocs Rceipts areapplid as follows:1. First. i n rei mbnrrserncnt of westEnd's distribution exPenses {includ in g

Dstribution Expenses oumide the Cap, ifany)2. Saond,to paymentofthenon-defeced Sales Fc '3. Third, to repayarcntof the Bank4. Founh,to paymentofthe deferrd Sales Fees5. thereafter in accordance with thc collection agrernent.

we would love tcbeinvolved in this proiatand work with youclosdyon this film,

rx,ith the airn to place it with the right distributors in each territory and maximise its

potential and revenues.

I am attaching our estimates which we kept caotious but realistic on the low column

to rdlet the market situation as we have ssr it in dre last year'

to hearing from you.

WESTEND FILMS LLP15 Grerk StreetLondon WID 4DPT: +44 (0)207 494 8300F: +44 (0)207 494 8301wwIr'w€stendfilms'com

PROJECT COVERAGE FORM

TITLE: The Song of Names AUTHOR: Jeffrey Caine SUB TO: SUB BY: FORM: Screenplay Draft Two LENGTH: approximately 110 mins BASED ON: The Novel LANGUAGE/S: English BUDGET: GENRE: Drama LOCATION: London/Poland/America PERIOD: WW2 to 1996 READER: Ella Harris DATE:23/07/10 ELEMENTS: Producers: Nick Hirschkorn, Jens Meurer, Dave Valleau Writer: Jeffrey Caine Cast: Vadim Perelman Anthony Hopkins Dustin Hoffman LOGLINE: ‘A story about friendship, betrayal, art and faith and the far reaching impact of the holocaust.’ COMMENT SUMMARY: A well composed film with a sensitive depiction of character but which feels long and may struggle to break out of an older middle class audience. Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1) PREMISE x STORYLINE x CHARACTERISATION x DIALOGUE x STRUCTURE x PACE x ORIGINALITY x AUDIENCE APPEAL x OVERALL SCORE: [ 25]/32 = [ 78 ]% CHARACTERS: Dovidl – An artistic genius with the stereotypical personality, self centred, elusive and strangely compelling. Martin- Described by Dovidl as a ‘normal’ person to lean on, Martin is sensible and trustworthy but compassionate and highly intelligent Violet – Martin’s mother, a kind woman who treats Dovidl as a son Mortimer – Martin’s father who agrees to take Dovidl on. He is a concert promoter Billy – A busker who Dovidl once played with Peter – A young boy who Martin meets on his search for Dovidl Eleanor (Peter’s mum)

Josef – Another violinist who trained with Dovidl but who went mad on his return to Poland and discovery of his parent’s deaths Myrtle – Martin’s wife, loving but more complex than she first appears Anna – Dovidl’s girlfriend after his return to Poland Broche – Dovidl’s wife in America PREMISE: The loyalty of friendship and the admiration of genius will be repaid, even if it takes a life time. SYNOPSIS: ‘The Song of Names’ is framed by the pursuit of Dovidl by Martin, a Jewish man from London. As children during the war Dovidl and Martin lived together because Dovidl came over from a poverty stricken family in Poland to train as a violinist. As children their relationship was a complex mix of admiration, love and jealousy but always Dovidl was the enigmatic and confident counterpart to the ‘normal’ Martin. Years later in 1996 Martin is still looking for Dovidl who disappeared mysteriously before a sell out concert in 1951, devastating Martin’s family emotionally and financially and sending Mortimer, Martin’s father to an early grave. Martin leaves his wife Myrtle and follows Dovidl’s trail across the world. Over the course of his journey he remembers, in flash backs, his life with Dovidl. Martin remembers how they grew up together, had a shared barmitzvah and how he witnessed Dovidl renounce his religion in an invented ritual of excommunication. Dovidl was even with Martin when he met his now wife, Myrtle. Martin’s first clue is a young boy called Peter who plays to a panel of judges including Martin himself. Peter uses the rosin in a way which Martin knows to be peculiar to Dovidl and when Peter introduces Martin to the busker who taught him the move Martin is able to follow the lead and begins to track Doivdl down. Martin visits Dovidl’s ex lover, Anna, in Poland where he discovers that Dovidl spent twenty years composing a secret piece of music before disappearing again. Anna explains to Martin (who already knows her experience) how she was merely the bystander to Dovidl’s genius. Anna seduces Martin and as he lies in bed afterwards asks him what he feels. Martin tells her he feels the guilt of betrayal and Anna is satisfied that Martin now understands what the other side of betray feels like and might be better able to forgive Dovidl for his disappearance. Martin learns that the violin Dovidl used has been sold and traces it to America, eventually being lead to a specific house. When he knocks on the door he is shocked to find Dovidl himself who has restored his faith in Judaism, much to Martin’s surprise. Dovidl explains to Martin what happened on the night of the concert. Martin had told Dovidl that, in order to relax he should ‘get laid’ so Dovidl took off into town with that purpose. However, on discovering he didn’t have enough money to take a taxi back he was obliged to get a bus but fell asleep, waking up dazed in a Jewish part of London. The religious men Dovidl stumbled upon promised to reveal to him whether his Polish family had died in the camps or not. They sang to him to the Song of Names, a list of the dead and in it Dovidl found the confirmation that his family did indeed perish. Dovidl was too shaken to return to the concert, he regained his faith in religion and became a family man, renouncing his music. Initially Martin is unable to hide decades of fury and beats up the calm Dovidl. However, when they have talked it out Martin decides he is going to reorganise the concert; that Dovidl will finally play the show he walked out on forty years ago. Dovidl agrees but is difficult and secretive about what he will perform. But when the night comes the show is phenomenal. Dovidl performs an interpretation of the Song of Names which he’d spent twenty years composing in Warsaw. However, after the show Dovidl leaves a note for Martin and drives his car off a bridge. The body is not found but Dovidl is presumed dead by all but Martin, who assumes he has escaped to a new life. However, Martin is now able to say Kaddish for Dovidl, to find the closure which Dovidl struggled so hard for in relation to his family. Myrtle reveals to Martin that it was she whom Dovidl visited when Martin sent him to ‘get laid’ but Martin is mainly relived, his guilt at sleeping with Anna is alleviated and the couple can continue a happy life together, free from the weight of Dovidl and the past. Martin gives Dovidl’s old violin to his rock obsessed grandson, precisely because he will not play it, will not become sucked into the myth of Dovidl.

COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS: ‘The Song of Names’ is an interesting and sensitive portrayal of relationships, Judaism and various forms of obsession. The excellent cast lined up so far should make the film’s characters and relationships even more appealing and interesting. Its plot is complex but excellent structuring makes it clear. The detective formula is similar to that used in more conventional detective films such as ‘Angle Heart’ and ties together the narrative nicely through the eyes of one man. Martin is perhaps the most interesting character. He has lived in the shadow of a pseudo adopted brother who continues to dominate his life. His final freeing from Dovidl echoes Dovidl’s final freeing from the uncertainty of his family’s fates. The film works as an emotional study because the same feelings are shown in different contexts and different characters. This is also true of the guilt Dovidl feels which Anna induces in Martin by seducing him. The depiction of Genius and the character of Dovidl are, however, fairly conventional. Whilst Dovidl is certainly engaging and charismatic he is a conventional musical genius like the protagonist of ‘Aleksander Rouge’ or Mozart in ‘Amadeus;’ self centred and difficult although compelling. ‘The Song of Names’ can, however, feel long and tiring (although never tedious.) The ground covered is a whole life and several continents and the script feels heavy and very solemn. For this reason the film may only appeal to those with interest in Lebrecht’s novel, in classical music or in Judaism as whilst it is interesting it is only entertaining on an intellectual level rather than being funny, light hearted, fast paced or exciting. The audience for ‘The Song of Names’ will be largely middle aged or older and middle class although the appeal of the film could be widened by emphasising the enigmatic character of Dovidl (as the promotional trailers for ‘Gainsbourg’ have done) rather than the musical or historical aspects (the treatment features pictures of violins and war torn London rather than the more gripping aspects of the film such as the personality of Dovidl and the interesting portrayal of Judaism and the function of religion in a person’s life.) Overall, however, ‘The Song of Names’ is a very accomplished film which promises to be very sophisticated and depicts an endlessly interesting and important period in European history. POTENTIAL: Recommend

The Song of Names

by

Jeffrey Caine

(based on the novel by Norman LeBrecht)

2nd Draft Revised – March 2010

Developed with the assistance of the National Lottery through the UK Film Council

&

Developed with the support of the MEDIA Programme of the European Community

producer Marlborough Films 4 Market Place London W1W 8AD 020 7612 0666