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Parents' Guide to

Song One

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Angsty musical romance has great songs, uneven plot.

Movie PG-13 2015 86 minutes
Song One Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Sookursa
Sookursa Adult
September 17, 2015
age 15+

So called professional critics don't have a clue...

This movie was very touching. As a new director I feel she did very well. The movie got to me bcuz it touches on the human nature of how we fight and sometimes don't get the chance to say we're sorry. The story line plays out with music and human touch being a healer of sorts. To me that is a wonderful gift to anyone having a hard time coping. I NEVER pay attention to the so called "critics" out there, simply bcuz those with true heart and emotion can connect with vision and meaning. I am one of those people. This movie brought tears and laughter to my day, and for that I'm thankful...One must put yourself in the character just add an actor would and see from the characters point of view and connect to the movie. Then and only then in such movies that reach out to your inner soul, can you truly judge a level of rating. I hope that you watch this movie and forget what the critics say...judge for yourself the meaning and the human touch...enjoy!
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

SONG ONE opens with 20-ish musician Henry (Ben Rosenfield) busking in a New York City subway station. Moments later, he's hit by a cab. Across the world in Morocco, his older sister, Franny (Anne Hathaway), is doing research for her Ph.D. in anthropology. When her mother (Mary Steenburgen) calls with the awful news -- Henry's been in an accident and is now in a coma -- Franny returns home, distraught that she hadn't spoken to him in six months. She begins to obsessively look through Henry's things and discovers a concert ticket for that very night to see his favorite singer-songwriter, British indie rocker James Forester (Johnny Flynn, of the folk band Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit). After the concert, Franny tells James about her brother -- his No. 1 fan -- being in a coma, and gives him a CD of one of Henry's songs. The next day, James shows up at the hospital to see Henry (and Franny). Over the next few days, Franny and James fall for each other through a shared love of music.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Director Kate Barker-Froyland's feature debut shows promise and a delicate touch with romance and music-driven stories. By casting Hathaway opposite a real folk singer and partnering with indie-rock couple Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice to write and compose the original songs, Barker-Froyland shows how devoted she is to her concept ... if not her plot, which is the film's weakest link. The music is well matched to the story (mostly emotional and warbling but once electronic and cathartic), especially the wonderful final song ("Silver Song"), and fans of Lewis, Flynn, and folk rockers like Mumford & Sons or Laura Marling will enjoy the soundtrack.

As mentioned, though, the plot is problematic, with the main characters making a few decisions that stretch believability. But if you buy into the longing between James and Franny -- and Franny's desperation to see her brother wake up -- you'll likely find it easy to excuse these missteps. Looking like the lankier, baby-faced brother of Michael Pitt and Garrett Hedlund, Flynn is every bit as sensitive and sweet as you'd imagine a singer-songwriter who finds time to hang out in his comatose fan's hospital room would be. While not a perfect film, Song One is effective as a romance and a showcase for poignant ballads.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Song One explores music and the various ways people experience it. How do you discover new artists? Does the soundtrack make you curious about the real artists featured in the film?

  • Johnny Flynn is a real-life folk singer turned actor. How do you think the movie would have been different with a more well-known actor?

  • How does the movie depict relationships? Are they realistic? Relatable? Teens: What do you hope for when it comes to love and romance? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values on these topics.

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