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Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer

Posted in Featured, Talking Politics

Published on September 14, 2016 with No Comments

By N. Balani

The 40th edition of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) celebrated the gala premiere of the film Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer at Roy Thomson Hall last night. The film starring Richard Gere, Lior Ashkenazi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Martin Sheen, Steve Buschemi and others and directed by Israeli writer/director Joseph Cedar was presented by AGF Management, well known Toronto-based fund company. Blake Goldring, Chairman and CEO of AGF Management, welcomed guests with an opening statement of how in his mind Richard Gere is synonymous with the popular movie Pretty Woman and the title song is still on his lips. He thanked all the guests for the genuine support they have shown for the company over the years.

The film Norman is very different from any other that Gere has undertaken and it calls for all of his inner strength to play the murky part of the main character. It is sombre and grey with little bits of dry humour about the life and times of the fixer who peddles personal contacts and relations, most of which do not even exist, in order to gain some modicum of prestige in his life. In the lead role as Norman Oppenheimer, Gere plays the role of the fixer with great aplomb. Gere at times does not even need words to convey his mood, feelings, dejection – just his demeanour and gestures say it all. Perhaps because, as he mentions in an interview, he has grown up in New York City and has known quite a few ‘Normans’. The film combines the wily world of the city with Israeli power plays and politics in a manner that only an insider could convey.

Joseph Cedar’s film Norman is far from being a glamorous film; it is indeed in a class by itself making it worthy of a film festival of the calibre of TIFF. Cedar has painstakingly drawn out Norman’s character as being so stubborn and pushy that he will not stop at anything and will not take no for an answer pushing his limits so far with people that they shun him. But in the end he reveals the true worth of his character and life; that he was more than a fraud and a hustler and actually cared for his friendship and relations. And that is what makes the film great and makes it rise above the ordinary.

Cedar was accompanied by his cast members Richard Gere (Norman) and Lior Ashkenazi (Micha Eshel) and stated his surprise at seeing almost all the seats filled. He commented “Wow I did not expect to see well over 2,000 people here to see my film which has a dull and boring character!”

Gere, who is now a silver-haired attractive 67 years, said that “I am happy to be here in Toronto and I love the film festival vibe here in the city. The movie is not a glamorous one but I do hope you enjoy the film. Thank you for coming out today!” He did, however, stay till the end of the film as did his co-star Ashkenazi and Cedar. They all waved to the fans at the close of the film as the audience clapped and cheered and the lights came on. A must see film for die hard fans of festival movies with well drawn out character actors and robust storylines.

 

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