HEARTS BEAT LOUD
US, 2018, 97 minutes, Colour.
Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson, Toni Collette, Sasha Lane, Blythe Danner.
Directed by Brett Haley.
This is one of those films which an audience would enjoy if they came across unexpectedly but is not one that they would necessarily seek out. Which means then that it would have more of a life and a wider audience on television and downloading.
It is a New York story, a veteran member of a band, Frank, running a shop full of vinyl records, a tribute to the past. He is played by Nick Offerman, seen on television in Parks and Recreation, often a villain on screen. Gently gruff, bearded, a life with many regrets, he is a sympathetic character here.
While the story of the film does focus on life in the shop, there is also a domestic side of the story, especially with his daughter, Sam (sympathetic Kiersey Clemons) who wants to go to UCLA to study medicine, to chart a new life away from home. She and her father are grieving at the accidental death of her mother 10 years earlier. There is also a complication, seen sympathetically from the point of view of her father and the screenwriter, in her relationship with an artist friend, Alice (Sasha Lane).
The other central character in the film is played by Toni Collette, Leslie, who owns the building in which the shop is stored, is a friend for Frank, buying records, even offering to go in partnership for the survival of the shop.
There is quite some emotion in a sequence where, on the last day of sales in the shop, father and daughter do an extensive gig for the customers – and for the cinema audience.
So, it is a story of interactions, a father loving his daughter and wanting her to stay, to compse music with him because she has a great flair for songwriting, of having to let her go, of acknowledging the different stages in the development of music in the US, of having to face a future as he gets older – and confiding with his good friend who manages a bar, Dave (a sympathetic Ted Danson), strong memories of his wife, uncertain of his future.
There is quite some appeal through the story and the characters – perhaps more familiar from characters in television series. But, if you chance upon Hearts Beat Loud, there is good enjoyment.
1. The title, music, the human story?
2. The New York story, apartments, the record store, the veneration of vinyl records? Preserving the past? The background of the city, the streets, diners, shops?
3. The musical score, the range of songs written for the film, memories of the past and bands, father and daughter collaborating in writing songs, performance, the final gig?
4. Frank’s story, the past and his music, his wife, the accident with the bicycle and the memorial, her death? Sam as young? Frank bringing her up? His store, being there for 17 years? His friendship with Leslie, her being his landlady, her attitude towards the store, buying the records? Going for a drink with her, the kiss and his expectations, seeing her boyfriend? The visit to her house? His love for Sam, his concern about her going to California to study, wanting her to stay? His benign attitude towards her relationship with Rose? Composing with her, the instruments, buying her the board? The offer of the gig and travel? Into the bar, his friendship with Dave? The last day at the store, deciding to do a gig, the performance and people’s reaction, Leslie coming? Going to work in the bar, Sam going to study, his getting the money for her fund, Leslie’s visit to the bar?
5. Sam, her age, bond with her mother, her mother’s death? Going to UCLA, to study medicine? Her reaction to her father, offhand, yet love? Meeting Rose, her art, the relationship? The pressures on her, the music, the compositions, her talent? Performing with her father? Saying she should stay – but going to study?
6. Leslie, friendship, landlady, discussions, the drink at the bar, her friend, the plan for sharing in the shop? The presence of the gig, encountering Frank the bar later?
7. Dave, 30 years at the bar, friendship with Frank, visiting Woodstock, the pot, the trees? A good friend?
8. Frank’s mother, the shoplifting, his rescuing her, the scenes at home, love for Sam? In jail, getting out, at home with Frank?
9. The range of customers at the shop?
10. The talent scout, the offer of a gig?
11. A humane slice of life?
