The film “Blue Moon,” unveiled by director Richard Linklater and actor Ethan Hawke at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, serves as a profound contemplation on the shifting tides of creative eras. This cinematic work centers on a critical turning point in the life of the celebrated composer Lorenz Hart, specifically recreating the atmosphere surrounding the premiere night of the musical “Oklahoma!” in 1943. This historic event signaled the start of a new partnership between Hart's former collaborator, Richard Rodgers, and Oscar Hammerstein II, a collaboration that would revolutionize the musical genre and usher in what is widely known as Broadway's “golden age.”
Utilizing the platform provided by the Berlinale, Hawke, who portrays Hart on screen, articulated his strong opinions regarding current trends within the film industry. He openly criticized the supremacy of commercial interests, arguing that this focus inevitably results in homogenized content that fails to respect the audience's capacity for deeper engagement. Furthermore, the actor sharply condemned the practice of casting performers based solely on their popularity across social media platforms, labeling the trend as “insanity.”
The film itself, directed by Robert Kaplow, offers an intimate exploration into human vulnerability and the essence of friendship, unfolding over the course of a single evening at Sardi's bar in New York following the triumph of “Oklahoma!” Linklater, renowned for his mastery in documenting the passage of time, delivers a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of success and the complexities of creative rivalry. The picture, which features Andrew Scott delivering a brilliant performance as Rodgers, garnered significant critical acclaim.
Scott’s portrayal was particularly lauded by the festival, culminating in the actor receiving the prestigious “Silver Bear” for Best Supporting Actor at the Berlinale. This recognition underscores the film's powerful dramatic core and its success in capturing the high stakes of the theatrical world during that pivotal moment in 1943.
Although the original “Before...” trilogy is complete, Hawke offered a tantalizing hint about a potential continuation under the working title “After.” He stressed, however, that any new project involving Linklater and Julie Delpy must stem from an authentic creative partnership. This dedication to genuine collaboration mirrors the central theme of “Blue Moon”: the recognition that art's true value often resides not in massive commercial success, but in the depth of experience it manages to evoke. Hart’s story, culminating in his death just a few months after the “Oklahoma!” premiere, functions as a powerful reminder that external recognition does not always align with the internal reality of the artist.