The Fools Who Dream

Here's to the ones who dream 

Foolish as they may seem 

Here's to the hearts that ache 

Here's to the mess we make 

Mia, an aspiring actress who works in a coffee shop, encounters Sebastian, a jazz pianist, twice. 

What happen after the encounters, between these two dreamers, is unfolded beautifully in La La Land. A movie that I've been waiting since last year... Yes, I'm not exaggerating it. 

"She told me, 'A bit of madness is key. To give us new colors to see,'" Emma Stone, who plays Mia, sings in the one-take "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)". This is the part which got me teary, right after the director explains the background story of a character, of who Mia came to be auditioned. The movie has had my heart since the first "Another Day of Sun" scene. The cheery vibe, however, didn't get me high, 'cause I had prepared my heart. From the people's reviews on Twitter, I knew right away this movie won't have a happy ending. 

But a happy story can go to hell, because this movie depicts a real, heart-breaking story - which may happen to us, as well. In its rawness, La La Land tells a story of every one: that time when you choose to compromise with the life's needs, while reality hits you with multiple rejections, that critical point when you finally give it up - and try to adjust your sail to another direction. We've all been in one of those situations. I know I have. 

The film only hits theaters in France since January 25th, way too late compared to Indonesia's Cinema XXI which quickly screens it after a handful winning from the Golden Globes. I never watched the trailer to keep the film as a full surprise, not until two weeks ago, I was exposed to it at Le Méliès, before watching Harmonium (2016). 

I can list the things that I love from La La Land, and since I've never written a serious movie review, I will not be sorry for the following heavy-spoiler material: 

- the story, the script 

- Ryan Gosling x Emma Stone. Impeccable performance, and, ugh, the chemistry 

- the shoots, the images 

- the color palette 

- how the story unfolds throughout a year: the winter, the spring, the summer, another winter 

- the songs, please 

- the choreography (FYI, Mandy Moore was the choreographer) 

- its raw story 

- "Audition" 

- "City of Stars" 

- "Another Day of Sun" 

For those who compare La La Land to (500) Days of Summer, and saying that they're alike... please think again?