"La La Land": The Sweet Escape to This Pandemic
The new year has barely arrived and we are again distressed by a rising number of COVID cases, travelling restrictions, curfews, lockdowns, and so on. While it seems rather difficult to perceive the light at the end of this long and winding tunnel, nothing can stop us from escaping these strange times by dreaming and hoping for a brighter future. To give you a taste of this boosting and liberating feeling, what better than offering you pleasing perspectives on a movie I cherish: La La Land.
Another day of sun
The first reason why La La Land is worth watching is that it will inevitably awaken the energy that lies within you. The cinematography enhances colours with the costumes, the decors and the charming landscapes. One cannot ignore the beauty of the sunset which serves as a background for Mia and Sebastian’s “Lovely Night” or the poetry of the planetarium scene. Various sequences of singing and dancing will also get you off the couch. The opening scene alone—when people stuck in traffic start dancing and singing “Another Day of Sun” on their cars—will fill you with joy and enthusiasm.
All you need is love
The second reason why you should watch La La Land is that it will load you up with romance. Mia and Sebastian’s love story is all you need and deserve at the moment: charm, light, and delicate. Their meeting, first of all, is touching but also cheeky, which makes it amusing. A piano theme coming from a bar captivates Mia. When she enters, she sees Sebastian playing and tries to tell him how much she loved what he played. Before she can say anything to him, he ignores her and leaves the bar. Chance, however, will work in their favour and will lead them to meet again. Their relationship develops slowly, a departure from the too romantic, perhaps, dumb image of love painted by classic romantic comedies. Through the sharing of each other’s passions, dreams, and aspirations, they build a solid and caring relationship that will push them to pursue their dreams no matter what.
Here’s to the fools who dream
Dreams are precisely what this film is about. Mia and Sebastian’s love story is particularly beautiful because they both contribute to the realization of their dreams: Mia wants to become an actress while Sebastian wants to open a jazz bar. They give each other strength, courage, and the confidence to not give up and to succeed. Thanks to their mutual support, they succeed in making their dreams their life. Some are disappointed by the narrative decision to choose not to build a life together. However, choosing to pursue their dreams appears to me like a great proof of love and like a generous gift to each other. La La Land reminds us that we must never give up our dreams (especially in times of pandemic). Watching this movie again (or for the first time) will, I hope, transport you and feed you with all the joy, hope, and optimism that you need to pursue your dreams once we regain our freedom.
Louise Hottinguer is currently a Second Year interdisciplinary student enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BASc) at University College of London, and is highly interested in current affairs, politics, and law, and is passionate about music and cinema.
