Song One: Movie Review

Writer/Director Kate Barker-Froyland makes her feature directorial debut with the Anne Hathaway led drama “Song One”, a quiet, yet soulful film. It is obvious to me that the Brooklyn based filmmaker loves her city and the music that inhabits it. As a music lover myself, it is a treat for me when a film like this comes along. Just like 2014’s “Begin Again”.

After her brother Henry (Ben Rosenfield) is hit by a car and left in a coma, Franny (Hathaway) comes back home to be there for her sibling and her mother (Mary Steenburgen). While away from her family for six months, Franny ignored emails from Henry where he would send her samples of music he was working on. She never actually knew how good he was until she listened to a CD recorded after she came back home.

One thing Franny does realize is that Henry is obsessed with famous indie-musician James Forester (Johnny Flynn). After she finds her brother’s song book in his guitar case, she decides to go to all the places Henry liked to go so she could get a sense of who her brother was. This includes going to see James Forester in concert. What Franny didn’t expect was to see James show up in Henry’s hospital room after she gave him a demo and told him about her brother’s condition.

When Franny invites James to join her on a tour of her brother’s favorite spots around the city, the quiet yet humble musician agrees and they actually form a connection. The chemistry between Hathaway and Flynn is strong, and not a whole lot needs to be said, because the two seem to understand each other even though they live in different worlds. Franny has been traveling the world, earning her PHD while James has been traveling performing his music.

Although the ending wasn’t quite satisfying to me, I kind of have to agree with the Froyland’s direction because it was the most honest way for it to go. Aside from that, “Song One” is definitely a film worth seeing for those who love music with heart.

By: Marc Ferman