So I decided to do something crazy – watch again La La Land.
I know – as beautiful and great as this movie is a contemporary musical , I had sworn for years. It’s not because I don’t like the music, the cinematography, or even the acting. This is one of the The best Emma Stone movies as well as Ryan Gosling’s (and I still think he deserves to win an Oscar for it).
No, I put off re-watching for a while because I just couldn’t stomach it La La Land end . Call it the romantic in me, but it didn’t sit well with me for years. But I decided to watch the movie one more time as an adult – and I have to say, my opinion of the ending has changed dramatically. Let’s get into it.
(Image credit: Lionsgate)
Let’s start by saying that I hated the ending as a teenager
The first thing to note is that as a teenager I did not like the ending of this movie.
This is hard to believe La La Land it came out a long time ago, but I was only eighteen when I first saw it. I was in my first real relationship (and I’m still in it now) and it was one of the first movies we watched together. We laughed, cried and smiled at the love story on screen.
But of course we were both (being the emotional people that we are) devastated by the ending. Even if we’re not looking the best rom-coms all the time or even watching the more intense drama romances, we still love the happy ending. At the time it was no a happy one.
This movie turned me off so much that every time I watched it, I left before the end. I couldn’t pass it up. But now everything has changed.
(Image credit: Lionsgate)
Relationships sometimes don’t last and love doesn’t always win
In the seven years since I watched this movie in its entirety, I’ve grown a lot. I graduated college in the year we won’t mention, struggled with my own issues, found a full-time gig, and yet, to this day, I’m still growing. My thinking is included so many things have changed.
And the end of La La Land join this endless list.
Some of the main themes of the ending resonated with me more as an adult, but the biggest one is that sometimes relationships don’t last and love doesn’t always win. Of course, I’ve been blessed in our relationship and we’ve found ways to work through every problem we’ve had over the past few years. However, I have noticed through countless other examples that relationships often require many sacrifices that some people are unwilling to make.
Whether it’s for career reasons, personal reasons or other things, these sacrifices and this unknown entity called “the future” can cause us to break up, whether after a short or long relationship. It might not be the right time or they don’t have the same values, whatever the case may be.
The love may still be there, but if love gets in the way of your reality of functioning together and growing as a couple, then it’s not working. And that honestly makes this one of the most realistic love stories I’ve ever seen.
(Image credit: Lionsgate Films)
You can still be happy for someone even from a distance
One of the biggest gut punches was seeing Mia and Sebastian look at each other in those final moments at the Jazz Club. At this point, they are just strangers who have both been through it entirely different paths in life. He opened his club, she began to succeed in her career and had a family with another.
But that look—that soft, discreet smile they share—makes all the difference. Even though they are not the same people they were together, they are still so happy for each other.
Mia can smile at what Sebastian has accomplished and he can do the same; it’s heartbreaking because we saw their love story from the beginning. I think that’s beautiful – that despite their circumstances, they still show how proud they are, even with just a look.
(Image credit: Lionsgate)
It’s okay to imagine what could have been – as long as you separate it from reality
I think one of the worst parts of the ending I hated was that it showed what their lives were like could were in this montage of their love theme and it broke something inside of me at the time. I just kept thinking, “How could they not make it? They loved each other so much. something.”
But now, older and a little wiser (at least in my opinion), I get it. That moment of imagining what could have been. It’s okay to think about it as long as it doesn’t distract you from the present reality that you too work hard to achieve.
I’ve often wondered what would have happened if my current relationship hadn’t ended. I probably would have stayed home for a few years, possibly working out of New York since it’s closest to where I originally lived. I might have worked in a completely different paper or industry, or met someone completely different. Heck, I could live the life of a character in them shows for New York if i wanted to.
But then I think about now and think about the man I love and remember everything we’ve ever been through and how much we’ve grown together. And yes, sometimes you can think about what could be, but there’s nowhere else for me to be than where I am.
That’s what the final montage is about. Both Mia and Sebastian wonder what could have been, but Mia takes a different path and so does he, because despite everything, they are happy where they are. At least they have each other to thank for getting them to where they are now.
(Image credit: Lionsgate)
Mia and Sebastian’s love story is a modern tragedy
While Mia and Sebastian’s story initially seemed like love, it has now turned into a modern day tragedy that I’m sure many people of my generation can relate to.
There are no identical connections and La La Land perfectly illustrates this. Sometimes things work out for the better, like for me. But other times life gets in the way and we have to make choices for others and ourselves.
It wasn’t easy for Mia and Sebastian, but they chose their careers. Although tragic, it is understandable in this day and age.
To be honest, if I want to feel good during a musical, I’ll go too watch again Oh mom! watch again Hairspray La La Land is a unique film that I think everyone my age – heck, even younger or older – should see.
This is exactly the kind of musical we need more of – one that shows how people choose their own happiness. Sometimes that doesn’t mean it’s with the person who does you are the happiest, but with yourself. I wish I understood it more as a teenager.
At least now that I’ve watched it again, I can go back to the best movies enemies of lovers or the funniest comedies. However, if you haven’t seen it La La Land after some time try. Your opinion may change, just like mine.
Or else you will despise the end; who knows? That’s the whole point – your life, Yours elections.
