Over winter break, my parents and I went and saw the highly accredited new film La La Land, starring the lovely Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, set in a futuristic, yet nostalgic version of the present. This article is going to have some major **spoilers***, so if you haven’t seen this incredible piece of art yet, refrain from reading further.
While everyone else is discussing the beauty and subtleties of the film, I find myself asking the question: would Mia and Sebastian have been happier –genuinely happier—if they had chosen each other instead of their own dreams? Think about the final, heart-wrenching scene where Mia has to leave Sebastian’s bar with her new husband with a lingering look at her ex-love from across the room. Was it a sweet look? Yes. Was it one without regret? Absolutely not. Nostalgia and remorse are two emotions humans have a hard time dealing with, especially simultaneously—there was a reason the entire audience was left reeling as they walked back to the parking lot after the credits closed.
One thing to consider is the fact that neither character would have followed their dreams without the other, especially Mia. Both of them taught each other when it was important to chase after what they truly wanted, but also when it was time to be realistic in those pursuits. They grounded and lifted one another in turn, and their separate paths led to money and material success, which was what they were after in the first place.
Most films in this era fail to express a situation in which the mind wins over the heart, and I thought it was well executed in La La Land, because while the characters achieved what they had dreamed of their entire lives, they were still left partially empty without the other, and that is more realistic than most silver screen situations. Who’s to say they wouldn’t have still accomplished great things while working out their own relationship? Mistakes were made on both ends (really, Seb? Did you HAVE to go to that photo shoot? Did Mia really expect Sebastian to stop after one tour with a gig that was providing him with tons of money and public recognition?). Either way, if they were willing to risk it all for their ideal lives, one would think they would put their love out on the line as well.
Personally, I would have found it more satisfying to have the life Mia imagined while she was watching Sebastian play their song in the bar—a happy, average family that takes the time to actually be a family, instead of hiring a nanny like she had to in the actual version of her life that played out. After thinking on the plot a while, I feel as if Mia didn’t put as much effort into the relationship’s longevity as she could have, which could be an ultimate sign they weren’t meant to be together, and proof that someone can’t have their cake and eat it, too.
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I still wish they had ended up together, though. I mean, who wouldn’t want little Emma Stones and Ryan Goslings running around singing in their pajamas in a sequel?
Here at Belmont, students are surrounded by fame-chasing mentalities, which can be hard to factor into young relationships. In this stage of life, it is important to take an individual path that is about finding a true sense of self—one concept that is well represented in La La Land. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why I think the relationship could have worked out—both of them encouraged the other to be the best version of themselves. Regardless, developing romantic relationships while pursuing a career is a difficult decision to make, depending on how time-consuming that journey is. Finding a partner who can feed your inspiration and allow you to delve into your individual passions is an important lesson to learn. Deciding whether or not risking your dream for a strong connection with someone is a completely personal choice; La La Land can be one person’s dream and another’s nightmare. It’s all up to chance.
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