"Quartet" is a beautiful film directed by Dustin Hoffman, about a retirement home for musicians as the residents prepare for a benefit concert to keep the place going.

The film stars Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Billy Connelly, and Pauline Collins, as well as opera performers, including Gwenyth Jones, Nuala Willis, John Rawnsley, Melodie Waddingham, Cynthia Morey, Justin Lavender, Vivienne Ross, and Patricia Varley.

The arrival of diva Jean Horton (Maggie Smith),once married to Reginald (Courtenay) is a reason for Reginald to completely panic. Not that Jean is in great shape either. As she's traveling to the home, she's rehearsing what she'll say to him: "We were different people then." Problems worsen when the well-meaning Cissy (Pauline Collins) who has moments of dementia, suggests that she, Cissy, Reginald, and Wif (Billy Connolly) perform the Quartet from Rigoletto at the benefit, something they performed many times. The mere suggestion causes Jean to become violent.

This is a great film about aging, about lost love, losing one's gifts, reconciliation, and coming to terms with life as it is now. The "quartet" of actors, along with Michael Gambon, are fantastic, as is the glorious soundtrack.

Opera lovers and those who appreciate great acting will love this film. Director Hoffman keeps the story from being mawkish or sentimental, mining the humor and the real emotion of the film. Beautifully done.

This is the sort of film I normally strenuously go out of my way to avoid: the feel-good movie, especially the feel-good movie (Billy Elliot comes to mind) in which characters find "redemption" and "meaning" through Art. As a rule, the Brits do this kind of film much better (Brassed Off, the Full Monty) than Hollywood (no examples I would care to cite, I haven't had my breakfast yet); this is a hybrid, being a British written and produced movie, with an American director (Dustin Hoffman) making his directorial debut at the tender age of 74.

So, why did I go to see this? "The Big Yin", Billy Connolly, of course. I dote on the man: all it takes is an imitation (and I believe that every single British comedian, of either gender, has one) to make me smile. So, aye, I knew at some point I was going to have to see this, and I am happy enough to have seen it on the big screen (there, I just did one). The acting from the entire cast is, of course, first rate; how not, when the cast is headed by Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Pauline Collins, and the great Tom Courtenay? With all respect to my main man, Billy Connolly, Courtenay's performance is what drives the picture; I'm old, and this man has been appearing on screen since before I was even born. We are talking some serious actor's chops here.

As for the story, it's just one of those: "will they get the Gala on stage and save this wonderful home, where they can be themselves and inspire future generations?" What do you think? I can't say that I noticed the direction, one way or the other: I suppose you would have to categorize Dustin Hoffman as an "actors' director", which is what's called for in a film like this. For me, the best part of the film was the end credits, where the actors' names were accompanied by head shots from when they appeared in opera companies and symphony orchestras way back in the day.

Warning: Despite the name being the same, this has no relation to the film by Somerset Maugham.

After the success of "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", I assume that some producers thought to try to replicate the film's success. This might explain why both films are about groups of British retirees and star Maggie Smith--and why both came out only about a year apart.

The film occurs in Britain at a place called Beecham House--a retirement home for musical artists. The residents are planning their annual Verdi's Birthday Celebration Benefit and the oldsters are rehearsing. Then, into this relatively calm environment comes one woman--one woman whose presence upsets everything. This diva (Maggie Smith) is completely self-absorbed but what's worse, she's the ex-wife of one of the people who planned on performing at this event. Much of the film is a character study of this woman as well as the influence she has on everyone. Much of the film also is a study of life for the aging--their ups and downs.

While this plot is quite simple, the film manages to work very well because the acting is so darned nice. The four leads from the quartet, Smith, Tom Courtnay, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins are just marvelous. Much of this is due to their fine acting and the writing and much must be the result of the direction by first-time director Dustin Hoffman (yes, THAT one). He seemed to have a real deft eye. Plus, the music really helped--both seeing operatic songs sung by actual retired opera stars and the incidental music. I don't even like opera but found myself pulled into the story by the music. Well done all around and a film for folks willing to fore go explosions and high drama for excellent acting and an enjoyable story.