Ballad for Sophie by Filipe Melo (words), Juan Cavia (art and color), Sandro Pacucci (color), and Gabriela Soares (lettering/translation)
Ballad for Sophie is one of the best graphic novels I have ever read. Upon a first read, I immediately decided to add it to the syllabus in my college English class, and I look forward to teaching it next semester. The art by Juan Cavia is brilliant, and the colors by Pacucci are striking. And Filipe Melo writes a story that is incredibly hard to put down and that is quite tender. The story is about an old and dying famous piano player who is one day interrupted by a determined young reporter. He at first dismisses her abruptly, kicking her out of the grand mansion, but when she spends the night out on his front doorstep, he changes his mind. The next morning the housekeeper opens the door, and she is invited in to hear the musician’s story.
Adeline Jourdain, the reporter, sits down to hear Julien Dubois describe an important first encounter with Francois Samson, a janitor’s son, who played piano so incredibly in a competition when they were young boys that he was asked to play encore after encore for over an hour. But Julien won the competition unfairly and to this day, regrets the outcome. He proceeds to tell more of his competitor’s life story as it intertwined with his own. Julien is bitter and has many regrets that come pouring forth as he sits at the piano in a large music room, his hands, poised above the keyboard he does not play, showing clearly that he is missing two fingers on his right hand. How did the famous and successful Julien Dubois come to lose his fingers? We are kept in suspense for most of the graphic novel, but eventually all is revealed to Adeline.
Julien’s story is a lively one describing the ups and downs of his career. Eventually he becomes incredibly successful, an international all-star, but he despises his success and envies Francois as he watches his musical career progress. Julien’s story encompasses it all: sex, drugs, and rock and roll, as well as changing fashions in music, recording contracts, a controlling manager, and eventually a doomed love affair, all leading up to the fateful day his career came to an abrupt end with the loss of his fingers. This tale seems to be a generic storyline of a man who rises to great fame only to eventually lose it all, a cautionary tale. But the way the story is told, the particular events, the gorgeous artwork, all come together to make this graphic novel a unique work of art that rises above this rough outline of the plot.
There are several aspects of the book that make it touching. First, the musician’s story is interrupted by scenes with the reporter, and their budding friendship is quite moving. They slowly grow closer and closer together as Julien drops his cranky persona, opens his heart, and becomes more and more vulnerable in front of Adeline. We see their interactions, both inside and outside the mansion, as they develop their relationship. And their relationship is complicated by the second aspect of the book that I love: The seemingly minor characters. There is a cat and a housekeeper, and their stories are important ones in the graphic novel as well. We eventually learn the housekeeper’s background and how she came to take care of Julien and how they came to bring a cat into the mansion, a cat that immediately takes a liking to Adeline when she arrives. In the past, other characters shape Julien’s life: his mother, his manager, and his lover. All these characters, no matter how seemingly minor, play central roles in Julien’s life, and the graphic novel ultimately weaves an intricate tale that elevates it as a work of art and turns it into a grand achievement on the part of Melo, Cavia, and Pacucci.
Finally, I must mention the artwork of Cavia, the colors done by Cavia and Pacucci, and the lettering by Gabriela Soares. All work together to make this one of the most beautiful graphic novels I have ever seen. The artwork is very different from what we are used to in comics from the United States. It is subtle, allowing for revealing facial expressions and body language. It is neither too realistic nor too cartoonish, striking a good balance between the two. Sometimes the facial expressions can be quite dramatic and at other times very subtle. And the colors, perhaps, are what are most immediately noticeable. The palette is somewhat muted and soft, while at the same time coming off as vibrant. Again, as with the art, the coloring is in keeping with European comics rather than American comics. Finally, the lettering is very clear and the font is easy to read.
I cannot praise this graphic novel enough. It should go to the top of your pile of books to read. It is even one of those comics to give to avid readers who are somewhat snobbish in their attitudes towards comics and graphic novels (usually because of a lack of exposure to this underrated form of art). It will convince anyone of the powerful storytelling that is possible with comics. It is a book I wish I could put in everyone’s hands. Julien’s story, as generic as it may sound at first, is surprisingly unique as he reveals his secrets to Adeline. And Adeline has a few secrets of her own. Please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Ballad for Sophie. You will not regret it.
Just ordered it!