This Is Your Song

This is Your Song tells the story of Jules (Briana Walsh) and James (Jordan Potch) on the night of their seven-year wedding anniversary. While the relationship is on the rocks Walsh and Potch create flawed yet likable characters. The costuming and set design are perfect for setting the mood and tone in this dark and gritty film. The camera work makes you feel like a voyeur through the passionate fight and make-up scenes. The highs and lows of the relationship are well-depicted through the music choices.

Both in lighting and theme, this story is reminiscent of the movie Biue Valentine, but it is unique. The way the director expresses the love and hurt that each has felt in the relationship keeps the viewer tuned in to see what will happen.

My one complaint is that the lighting made it difficult to read the actors' expressions during highly emotional scenes.

I loved the references to San Francisco both verbally and by the visual montage.

While the story is a slow burn it is worth seeing all the way to the end.

There's a moment, fleeting and poignant, or wretchedly ubiquitous: that could be ripped from the pages of the lives of anyone who watches this film. Any moment really. There's an uncomfortable familiarity to the intertwined lives of Jules and James as they arrive at the end of a long and tumultuous journey. Sometimes you might even feel as though they are our avatars. Through long uncut shots and emotive mood lighting, we go through it all. It's a visceral enough story that will resonate with most viewers. It's far from a smooth ride. This film can cut deep at times. These aren't likable people crafted for corporate media, they're real people. They're actors of course, although they embody their characters' truths so well, at times Jules and James appear to be the focus of a stylized documentary. This one hits home. Standout performances by Jordan Potch, Joanna Kay, and Briana Walsh.

Attending the LA premiere of THIS IS YOUR SONG proved to be an unexpected yet enriching cinematic voyage. Unacquainted with much beyond the trailer and the promising directorial finesse of Hassan Said, the film unfolded as a poignant reminder of the profound impact storytelling can have on the expansive canvas of cinema. An ode to character-driven dramas, THIS IS YOUR SONG emerges not just as a film but as a masterful composition, reverently tipping its hat to the cinematic classics while confidently charting a contemporary narrative course.

The performances, particularly from the debut leads, are a revelation-an emotive symphony that oscillates between celestial highs and gut-wrenching lows. The unexplored realms of emotion, traversed effortlessly by these first-time actors, lend the film a rare authenticity.

Beyond its narrative prowess, THIS IS YOUR SONG transcends the confines of mere Oscar-worthy recognition. It stands as a courageous plea in an industry that often sidesteps original, risk-taking auteurs, carving its own niche in the modern Hollywood landscape.

Yet, the film's triumph extends beyond narrative and performances. It resuscitates the collective theater experience, elevating it beyond mere nostalgia into a vibrant testament to the enduring power of storytelling on the grand screen.

In moments that left me trembling, THIS IS YOUR SONG etched a visceral cinematic experience rarely encountered in recent memory. Its poignant portrayal of love, both gained and lost, resonates profoundly, leaving an enduring imprint. Far more than a gem, this cinematic marvel is a triumph-an invitation to celebrate ingenuity and embrace the inherent risks that define true artistry.

Crafting a genuine portrayal of a relationship on the brink of its end presents substantial challenges. The authenticity required often exposes the messy aspects of human connections, risking the portrayal of characters as too flawed and consequently unlikable or unrelatable. However, the filmmakers of "This Is Your Song" skillfully navigate this delicate balance. The characters, though flawed, remain authentically human, and their pain resonates, creating a relatable narrative throughout. In essence, "This Is Your Song" offers much to applaud. The film is a testament to the filmmakers' ability to maintain a captivating narrative within the challenging constraints of a single-take technique. Without a doubt, it's a movie that deserves to be experienced.

Welcome back real filmmaking, I thought while watching this film. It's an impressive cinematic achievement since most of the story is done in two long takes. But this impressive feat still serves the story not the other way around. The story focuses on a relationship between two emotionally-scarred and passionate artists. Their Bohemian dreams haven't panned out the way they were expecting and it is time to take stock of their relationship. Briana Walsh and Jordan Potch are excellent in the emotional tug of war between their characters. You can see their desires, love, passion, and pathos play out in dialogue reminiscent of classic American dramatists like Edward Albee, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller. This film has a classic feel to it in its lighting and set design. The long takes never feel stagey or call too much attention to themselves because of the capable camerawork and the focused direction of the director, Hassan Said. How he blocks a scene and the subsequent changes in lighting makes this cinematic, not just a theatrical experience. But it's the two characters that make this film a moving experience. They embody what Kerouac would call mad to to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time. Their emotions turn on and off like the neon street signs outside their windows. If you enjoy classic films, smart dialogue, and innovative filmmaking, this is a film to watch.