Philip Seymour Hoffman and Christopher Walken lead a superlative cast in this haunting tale of a world-renowned string quartet that is coming apart at the seams

On the eve of a world renowned string quartet’s 25th anniversary season, their beloved cellist, Peter Mitchell (Christopher Walken), is diagnosed with the early symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. When Peter announces he wishes to make the upcoming season his last, his three colleagues find themselves at a crossroad. Competing egos and uncontrollable passions threaten to derail years of friendship and collaboration. Robert Gelbart (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the quartet’s second violinist, announces his desire to alternate chairs with first violinist Daniel Lerner (Mark Ivanir), after years of sacrifice and peacemaking for the benefit of the group. Robert’s wife, violist Juliette Gelbart (Catherine Keener) has a particularly difficult time grappling with the tragic diagnosis, as Peter has served not only as a colleague, but as a dear father figure since childhood. When Juliette is unable to support her husband, their marriage is strained with a palpable tension that they can no longer ignore. Tossed into the maelstrom is their daughter Alexandra (Imogen Poots), a talented violinist in her own right. Like her father, she too decides to act on her desires. As the string quartet prepares to play Beethoven’s Opus 131 for what might be the members’ last concert together, the seven movements of the piece echo their own tumultuous journey. (USA, 2012, 105 mins., color, 35mm • Writer/Director Yaron Zilberman • Cast: Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Mark Ivanir, Imogen Poots)

“Grace notes abound in A Late Quartet, a small, shining gem of a movie that works its way into your heart with insinuating potency of music. Walken’s performance is heartbreaking, and a master class in the craft of acting.” – Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

“You don’t have to be a classical fan to appreciate the film’s air of inside baseball – the ease with which it navigates a hermetic world of people who understand music better than they understand themselves.” – Ty Burr, BOSTON GLOBE

“…the performances are treasures, led by Christopher Walken in a surprisingly gentle, soulful key as the group’s senior member.” - Lisa Schwarzbaum, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“A Late Quartet does one of the most interesting things any film can do. It shows how skilled professionals work.” - Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES