'Swan Song' A Review

Swan Song is a dramedy about retired Sandusky, OH hairdresser Pat(Udo Kier) who leaves the monotonous routine of his retirement home at the final bequest of his closest and most wealthy client who has passed away. He travels through his town, revisiting old haunts and reconnecting with acquittances and friends while gathering the beauty supplies he needs for his final transformation.

Kier, mostly known for his work in genre pictures and his collaboration with Lars Van Trier, is given a wonderfully quiet, poignant story in which to populate a funny, dignified, empathetic character. It's a treat from Kier, who has long been a consistently working character actor but seldom(if ever) the lead, and with such grounded, emotional material. It's a shame, this simple yet powerful performance has been overlooked in this years awards conversations, particularly given Kier is a decades-long cinematic mainstay. The supporting cast, seemingly populated with actors and non-actors alike, consist of mostly small and subtle roles but highly effective in giving dimension to the world and playing off of Kier, propelling him on his journey.

Visually simple but highly transportive Sandusky is depicted with a care and attention few films have for their locations, we so often get bland, non-descript NYC or LA(often shot in Atlanta or Vancouver), so the location itself is refreshing not to mention how effective it is rendered as the place Pat inhabits. A real place that contains dynamic life and stories worthy of attention. As far as the narrative it is equally refreshing in that its a LGBTQ story where the protagonist is elderly, where there is sorrow but not trauma, and that sorrow has more to do with age rather than bigotry. Where its not about coming out, the struggle, dating etc. but about quiet reflection and one final ride. A victory tour. 

Last year I lost a friend due to COVID, he was in his 70's, gay, and expressed some of the same reserved befuddlements about the evolutions of gay culture reflected by the protagonist. So, even if Early may not have watched this were he still with us(I don't think he was the biggest movie fan, he liked HGTV) it's very important and thrilling to have a story like his told.

Fun and inspiring, deep but simple.

Currently streaming on Hulu.

Don't Miss It.