Stanley Tucci as Tusker and Colin Firth as Sam in Supernova.
Camera IconStanley Tucci as Tusker and Colin Firth as Sam in Supernova. Credit: Supplied

Supernova review: Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci face dementia diagnosis in intimate British drama

Lucy RutherfordWestern Suburbs Weekly

CLASSICAL pianist Sam (Colin Firth) and successful novelist Tusker (Stanley Tucci) are an old married couple on a campervan holiday in the Lake District.

Tusker was diagnosed with dementia six months ago and Sam is torn between wanting to enjoy every last moment like normal and trying to protect and take care of him.

Tusker meanwhile is grappling with losing the parts of himself, including his ability to write, that he sees as the essence of who he is.

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Supernova cleverly draws on the well-known persona’s of both actors, Firth as painfully polite British, Tucci as quirky New York wit, to make these characters feel not just familiar with each other but to the audience as well.

Tucci and Firth play a loving couple in a decades long relationship.
Camera IconTucci and Firth play a loving couple in a decades long relationship. Credit: Supplied

Physically Firth is a tall solid presence while Tucci’s thin delicate frame in contrast looks like a man on the brink of ill health.

The film is almost entirely a two parter between them, and every nuance, in-joke and affection is beautifully realised.

The autumnal landscapes they drive past work as a visual metaphor for things ending yet there is still beauty in being able to look back at a life well lived.

With career-defining roles for its two leads, Supernova is an intimate, honest and devastating look at the unique tragedy of an illness such as dementia.

As Tusker puts it: “You’re not supposed to mourn someone while they’re still alive.”

Supernova (M)

Director: Harry Macqueen

Starring: Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci, Pippa Haywood

Four stars

In cinemas April 15