SONG ONE
US, 2014, 86 minutes, Colour.
Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn, Mary Steenburgen.
Directed by Kate Barker Froyland.
Song One Is a brief romantic drama, with Anne Hathaway in the lead, playing a research student, Franny, working in Africa who returns home to be with her brother after his being involved in a car accident and in coma in hospital. Her mother, Mary Steenburgen, was a freewheeling type in in Paris in the past and has some loving clashes with her daughter.
The brother was an aspiring musician, and was a great admirer of James Forrester, played by musician Johnny Flynn. When Franny goes to a club, she meets Flynn, getting him to visit her brother, and, as expected, forms a sexual attachment.
There have been tensions between brother and sister but she keeps vigil which means that when he wakes up, there is a reconciliation.
There is an emphasis on music, the various songs that James Forrester has composed – and his final songs.
1. A music story? People and music?
2. New York City, locations, the streets, clubs, venues the gigs, apartments, hospital? Philadelphia?
3. The musical score, the range of songs, performance?
4. Henry’s story, playing on the streets, busking, listening to music, the accident and the explanation about the driver trying to stop, Henry not noticing the car? In coma, in hospital? His mother’s care, asking Franny to come home, friends and her part in the clash with her brother?
5. Franny, going into her brother’s room, the posters, James Forrester, his diary, the CDs and his recording? In the hospital, vigils, present when he woke, his recognition of her?
6. Franny’s story, the rituals of the wedding, her observing, her Ph.D., Morocco? The news, going back to New York City? Her relationship with her mother, communication? Her feelings about Henry, the information about James Forrester, the search, discovering the ticket, going to the gig, James and talking, the CD, his going to the hospital, the continued discussions, sharing, the individual, the growing relationship, the sexual encounter, James and Franny going to the different clubs, the performances? His playing for Henry? His singing, and Franny singing? Philadelphia, singing at the wedding, leaving to go back to the UK?
7. James, from England, his music, his style of performance, his range, vocal range, melodies and lyrics? His fans, the autographs, meeting Franny, going to the hospital, his guitar, playing, the different venues? His apartment, the relationship, sexual encounter? With the mother, going to the meal, the discussions, hearing her story of the past? Philadelphia, the wedding photos, performance, Henry waking, his final songs?
8. The mother, her style, the memories of Paris in the 1970s, her studies and degrees, relationships, marrying, the hippie style, the rockstar, her husband, her children? Her concern about Henry, the visits, smoking, talking with her daughter, food, James’s visit to the hospital, the meal? Her bringing out the accordion? Love?
9. The background of the music scene in New York City?
10. An emotional story, coma and recovery, parental love, sisterly love, music and a love story?
