The Song of Names

Set in London around the Second World War, The Song of Names centres on two boys who grow up as brothers. Dovidl, a Polish Jewish violin prodigy, is taken in by the Simmonds family, who nurture his musical gift alongside their own son, Martin. On the evening of Dovidl's first public concert, he disappears without a trace, leaving Martin to carry the loss for decades. Years later, a hint that only Dovidl could have left behind sends the adult Martin in search of the friend he never forgot.

François Girard directed the film, his fourth feature after The Red Violin, Silk and Boychoir. Jeffrey Caine wrote the screenplay, and the cast includes Tim Roth as Martin and Clive Owen as Dovidl, with Catherine McCormack, Eddie Izzard, Jonah Hauer-King and Gerran Howell. It was produced by Robert Lantos, Lyse Lafontaine and Nick Hirschkorn, and made as a co-production between Germany, the United Kingdom, Hungary and Canada.

Released in December 2019, the film runs 114 minutes and took about 1 million dollars worldwide, a modest return. On IMDb it holds 6.5 out of 10 from roughly 5,900 votes, and on TMDB 6.7 from 174 votes. A critics' rating of 5.2 from 57 reviews sits below both audience scores.