A Song for Martin 2001

Martin Fischer, a distinguished composer, finds himself in a passionate yet complicated romance with first-violinist Barbara Hartman during rehearsals and performances for an upcoming concert. Despite both being married with adult children, their flirtation blossoms, leading to a tender moment after the concert, where they share a kiss and Barbara confesses her love for him. This bold decision results in Barbara revealing to her two adult children her intent to separate from their father; while her son Phillip reacts with fury, her daughter Karin shows more support and understanding.

As the story unfolds, we witness Barbara and Martin in a romantic honeymoon in Morocco. However, upon their return home, Martin’s life takes a tragic turn when he suffers from amnesia and is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. A doctor advises them to continue living their lives as normally as possible, but their journey soon proves to be fraught with challenges.

During a dinner outing, Martin struggles to handle a situation that requires him to pay the bill twice, leading to significant embarrassment and humiliation that taints the evening. As his condition deteriorates, he works tirelessly on an opera that he believes is nearing completion. Once convinced of its readiness, he sends Barbara to the post office with the score, only for her to discover that the pages are an incoherent mess, leaving her and the manager, Biederman, to maintain the pretense that the opera will indeed be performed.

A return to Morocco becomes a somber occasion, as Martin’s struggle with Alzheimer’s grows more evident. One alarming incident sees him absent in the morning, found sitting in a café with no pants. On another trip to the water, he forgets how to swim, and in a moment of desperation, he pulls Barbara down with him, but they are saved by lifeguards.

Back in Sweden, they attend a performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, where Martin unexpectedly stands and attempts to sing along, prompting Barbara to escort him out. The situation escalates as he becomes increasingly confused and uncontrollable, culminating in a night where he damages Barbara’s cherished violin, resulting in an emotional confrontation between them.

As Martin’s health declines further, he requires assistance in nearly all aspects of life. During a birthday celebration at a restaurant, he embarrassingly urinates in a plant, leading to a confrontation with Barbara. Eventually, he retreats into silence, responding only to the sound of her opening a box of chocolates. The poignant conclusion of the film sees Martin perform in a concert, with Barbara playing the violin, a heartbreaking yet beautiful testament to their love amid the shadow of his illness.