Watch Damien Chazelle’s latest movie at your own on risk, for this story will challenge your choices and make you question your decisions. Not decisions like fish or chicken, water or wine. Real decisions, like the ones about relationships and careers, life and love.
This is no ordinary Movie
From the first scene, it is clear that this is no ordinary movie—people dancing on cars, singing in the street, exchanging pleasantries in LA traffic, something about this film is odd, not like the rest. Perhaps it’s because this is a musical—a bygone genre that lacks the luster it once had in stories like "West Side Story" and "Singin’ in the Rain." Or perhaps it’s because this film has that old fashioned cinematography feel to it, long takes and few cuts.
But despite its odd nature, "La La Land" is relatable, especially to millennials. Millennials tend to be idealists with a stubborn conviction to follow their dreams, and the characters in this story follow suit. This isn’t just another love story about a boy and a girl. This is a story about a girl pursuing her convictions and a boy pursuing his convictions. In the midst of pursuing their dreams they happen to cross paths, and this is where the love story begins.
It’s Christmas day; the scene is a Los Angeles restaurant. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is sitting behind the piano, center stage, playing humdrum Christmas songs for an audience distracted by food and conversation. Bill (J.K. Simmons) has given Sebastian instructions to play nothing but the set list.
In a moment of inspiration and sheer talent, Sebastian chooses otherwise. He breaks out into a solo, stealing the attention from food and conversation. Now all eyes are on him, including Mia’s (Emma Stone). The room is filled with tables and people, but through the crowd, Mia’s eyes are fixated on Sebastian. She stands there in the doorway of the restaurant staring, and then falling, falling in love.
This is not just a love Story
This is Los Angeles. People don’t move to the West Coast to fall in love; people move out West to pursue dreams. It’s always been that way, from the days of the gold rush to modern day Hollywood; the West is for the sunshine chasers and dream pursuers. That’s why this story is odd. It’s not just about a relationship between a boy and girl; it’s a story about the relationship between a dreamer and his/her career.
Few millennials lay awake at night losing sleep over finding the “right” person. Today, more and more twenty-somethings are putting off marriage and dating for pursuing passions, dreams, and careers. And why not? Growing up they were given trophies and medals for nearly everything and told to go to college and that they could be whatever they wanted.
Now, after college, more and more millennials are convinced to do just what their parents told them they could do, be whatever they want to be. In reality, many will likely fail and settle for the age old nine to five mundane career, but there are some people out there who will refuse to settle; who, even in the face of adversity and criticism and debt, will continue to pursue their dreams. That’s why millennials will relate to this story, not because it’s about love, but because it’s about dreams and convictions.
