Why I Love Greta from Begin Again

John Carney's Begin Again (2013) remains one of my personal all-time favourites. The gorgeous shots of late-night bars and New York streets are lovely snapshots of being the small fish in a big eclectic city. In our world that's changed drastically in recent years, there's something really comforting about this film too.

The film opens with a run-of-the-mill open mic night; Greta's song marks the moment she and Dan will chance upon each other. The focal point of the film is the unlikely friendship that forms between the two main characters. These are two ordinary individuals seeking to - as the film name suggests - begin again. Dan, an old-time music producer, sees Greta's performance and tries to sign her, but both find healing through the making of her album.

Image via IMDb

Begin Again posits itself right in between the independent film and Hollywood. Stylistically indie in its conception, the movie showcases an A-list cast with the likes of Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine. And as with all indie films - it's all about the little moments. The subtlety of the actor's performances give the individual stories much depth and dynamism that the audience feels they can relate to. The soundtrack on this movie compliments this beautifully too, written primarily by Gregg Alexander. (It's to die for!)

The first half of the film covers the events leading up to Dan and Greta's meeting; the second half shows them taking a chance on each other to step out of their musical comfort zones in making Greta's album. For Dan, this means taking a step back from his label and its structure to record and produce the album unconventionally. While for Greta, her unwavering insistence that the album not be heavily monetised is a testament to her belief that music is for everyone - and in this film, music does bring people together as much as it drives them apart.

My love for this film probably boils down to Greta - she is consistently lumped with two men (Dan and Dave, her up-and-coming rockstar ex-boyfriend) who are so deeply set in the possibility for monetisation and profit from music-making. Greta's 'thing' throughout is that she writes songs for fun - with no other purpose than her own joy ("For my cat," she says). This rings true when she consistently refuses any major professional credit for her music and writing. As a small-time music maker myself, this was refreshing to see and also gave me a lot to reflect on. Amidst the search for fame and exposure and social media, it can be easy to lose sight of the simple joys in writing and making music. Cheesy as it is, I love the way Greta brought community and spontaneity back into the process of making her album for everyone involved. Leading by example, she made music an experience for everyone to enjoy for no other reason than soul fulfilment.

Image via Netflix

Greta's stance that 'music should be for everyone' contrasts Dan and Dave tremendously. Both are heavily involved in the music industry, and are money-minded when it comes to music - but where Dave was unable to see past the glitz and glamour, Dan falls back in love with music again. As for Dave, early on we see him trying to credit Greta as his writing partner though she consistently shrugs this off. It then solidifies how painful this would be for Greta too, as their fatal incompatibility was so clear from the start. Although romance was hinted for Dan and Greta, I love that they chose friendship. For a story where the leading female character ends up alone, yet it is equally if not more satisfying, was very inspiring.

I often wonder - one of the bigger plot devices used in Greta and Dave's relationship is their song 'Lost Stars', and her criticism of him turning the ballad into a pop tune. Is it ironic then, that Adam Levine's pop version of 'Lost Stars' is the one that topped the charts upon the movie's release? Moreover, Carney has criticised Knightley for her role in the movie, stating he never wishes to "make a film with supermodels again". But Knightley's performance makes Greta. She ensured Greta was a strong female lead in her own right by being quietly consistent and steadfast in her beliefs - which in all likelihood, Carney probably did not have in mind when he created the character.

Image via IMDb

Begin Again is my personal feel-good movie, and I love re-watching it every time I feel like I need a recalibration. It's in the little moments and the idealism yet realism of it all, and all the romantics of being able to break away and start again, wherever you may be.