Directed by Damien Chazelle, who also helmed the phenomenal and
unforgettable “Whiplash,” “La La Land” is a breathless, thrilling
romance that intertwines the worlds of Sebastian and Mia who are trying
to find their place in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking
hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about
everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.
The jazz pianist Sebastian, played by Academy Award® nominee Gosling,
has a near-miss with the greatest love of his life. A defiantly retro
jazz diehard who doesn’t believe in compromising his convictions for
anyone or anything, at first he brushes off Mia (Stone) as just another
person who will never comprehend him or the gravity of his dreams – but
that does not go as planned. An equal magnet for Gosling was the
intrigue of playing a man who worships with his very being an artform
that seems to be dying on the vine of a ruthlessly fast-changing pop
culture.
“Sebastian has dedicated his life to being a great jazz pianist, but in
his mind the world around him is saying those days are over. His heroes
were born 70 years ago, and in this day and age, a great piano player
playing real jazz is destined to work in bars where people don’t even
stop their conversations to listen to you,” Gosling notes. “So how much
do you compromise to be the artist you want to be?”
The aspiring actress Mia (Stone) seems to be caught in an endless loop from her barista job to dead-end auditions
when she finds herself repeatedly bumping into the same ill-mannered
pianist in a convertible – who breaks the spell. Playing Mia is Academy
Award® nominee Emma Stone, whose roles have ranged from “Superbad” and
“Easy A” to “The Help” and “Birdman.”
Stone faced a one-of-a-kind challenge with the role – playing a
character who has to be at once anchored in very real goals and
feelings, while also able to erupt into musical fantasia at a moment’s
notice, combining the two seamlessly. It helped that Stone has not only
explored the depths of dramatic roles, but also has the skills of a
Broadway veteran who recently starred as Sally Bowles in the revival of
Cabaret.
Mia’s yearning for something beyond the ordinary also hit home with
her. “Mia is driven by something that maybe she doesn’t completely
understand,” says Stone. “She wants to be an artist in a city of so many
people who seem to be just like her. She feels that there's something
special inside her but she doesn't quite know what it is. I could relate
to her being an actress and going on auditions but even more so, there
was something so exciting about taking her into this musical world where
you can suddenly spin down the street or burst into song. That was a
wonderful challenge.”
“La La Land” opens January 11 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.
