Tar begins as a New Yorker writer interviews conductor Lydia Tar, played by Cate Blanchette. The introduction runs longer than expected, listing the accomplishments of a genius Conductor/Composer/Performer. The interview begins and we quickly see Tar is a person not to be toyed with. Cate Blanchett makes her as a high-octane dynamo, often arrogant, dismissive, cruel. Soon we learn, as with many male musicians Lydia thinks little of grooming a younger woman as a sexual partner. The air in Lydia's life remains rarified until a suicide changes everything. Management offices and board room conferences follow, posing the question---where do we separate the artist from the art. Don't expect a clear answer. Rather, sit back and take in a stunning performance of a characters we wonder if we should admire or condemn. Tar left me shocked and sad and exhausted.
