A Richard Linklater Film About Lorenz Hart
Step into Sardi's bar on a fateful night in 1943. Blue Moon is an intimate, one-night journey into the soul of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart, masterfully portrayed by Ethan Hawke in an Oscar-nominated performance. Directed by Richard Linklater, this biographical drama unfolds in real time as Hart reflects on his life, loves, and fading partnership with composer Richard Rodgers.
Experience the magic of Golden Age Broadway, the pain of unrequited love, and the creative genius behind some of America's most beloved songs. A film that captures the melancholy beauty of a life lived in the shadows of greatness.
Richard Linklater
2025
97 minutes
March 31, 1943
Sardi's Bar, New York City
Life & Letters of
Lorenz Hart
2 Nominations
Best Actor & Original Screenplay
Full Biographical Drama • Oscar-Nominated Performances • HD Quality
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A night at Sardi's with Lorenz Hart
Blue Moon is a 2025 American biographical comedy‑drama directed by Richard Linklater and written by Robert Kaplow, inspired by the life and letters of famed lyricist Lorenz Hart. The story unfolds over a single night on March 31, 1943, as Hart — played by Ethan Hawke — spends the evening at Sardi's bar in New York City reflecting on his career, unrequited love, and fading creative partnership with composer Richard Rodgers.
While Oklahoma! celebrates its opening night (a Rodgers & Hammerstein collaboration that marked the end of the Rodgers & Hart partnership), Hart grapples with jealousy, memory, and self‑worth in what becomes a poignant meditation on creativity, partnership, and the price of genius.
The film premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance for Andrew Scott, and earned two Academy Award nominations at the 98th Oscars in 2026: Best Actor for Ethan Hawke and Best Original Screenplay for Robert Kaplow, highlighting its strength as both a performance piece and a richly written character study.
This film is presented here for educational analysis and artistic appreciation. Blue Moon represents Richard Linklater's masterful approach to biographical storytelling—condensing a life's essence into a single, transformative night.
As a double Oscar-nominated film (Best Actor & Original Screenplay) and Berlin Silver Bear winner, this intimate character study demonstrates how cinema can explore the human condition through the lens of historical figures, capturing both their genius and their vulnerabilities.