After watching one of the years most talked about films, La La Land, I realized that there are a couple of learns to be learned from Mia and Sebastian's stories. The most common thought one thinks when La La Land is mentioned is how beautiful the cinematography is and how unique the voices of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone compared to other actors and actresses we've heard over the past couple of films made into musicals. However, one of the biggest take aways is how the message is not necessarily as clear as some think- the idea of reaching your dreams.
For those who don't know, La La Land is a fictional tale following the lives of Mia, a girl wanting to become an actress, and Sebastian, a boy whose love for jazz music motivates him to open up a jazz club. However, after the audience forgets the entire "boy-meets-girl" scenario, a message of hope and chasing your dreams begins to emerge from the story line. And then it all ends.
We find out the truth about life and how some dreams are just, well, dreams. If you want to achieve something, you're going to have to risk everything to get it. Mia chose to follow her dream for stardom when she went off for a movie in Paris. She chose that route knowing full well that the love of her life will move on- get his own life. We learn that just because you have a passion for something does not mean it doesn't come at a price.
For instance, I was a ballerina up until my last year of high school and after 12+ years of intense training, I had to make a decision: do I continue with ballet in hopes of making it on broadway or stop the dream and follow another one. The answer was not simple, but necessary. Yes, the decision to quit something I loved was tough, but it had to be done.
Maybe the message La La Land is trying to teach is not reach for the stars, but rather run for them just remember that you'll leave something important behind.
Mia wanted to be an actress. She was willing to give up true happiness and an eternal life with her true love for her career. She made the choice and I commend her for it.
I'm not saying dreams don't matter. What I am saying is that dreams are just dreams. Without action, they mean nothing. If you're not willing to give up everything for one dream, you will not achieve it. As harsh as that may sound, some of us are not meant to achieve our ultimate dreams. Some of us are meant for other things.
It's the idea that life is not fair, but it's not a b*tch either.
It's your life and thanks to La La Land, we've gotten a glimpse at an alternate happily ever after.
