Song to Song

In Austin, Texas, Faye is a guitarist looking for success as a musician. She starts an affair with record producer Cook, hoping that he will help her. Then she begins a relationship with BV, who has had slightly more success than she and is also working with Cook. Cook and Faye keep their affair a secret from BV and the three take a trip together to Mexico.

Rhonda is a former kindergarten teacher working as a waitress at a diner, where she is courted by Cook. The two eventually marry and he buys her mother a house. Business gets rough between Cook and BV and their professional relationship and friendship end.

Faye feels increasingly guilty about her affair with Cook, and finally tells BV, who breaks up with her. Faye then has a relationship with Zoey, a French woman living in the US. Rhonda begins to feel uncomfortable with Cook's wild lifestyle, which includes sex with other women and drugs. BV dates New Yorker Amanda for some time, but eventually they break up too.

Rhonda takes her own life, leaving Cook shocked and saddened. Faye and BV reconnect and start dating again. Later, BV moves back west to his hometown to take care of his sick father and the rest of his family, and pursues a simpler life, taking a job as a worker at a drilling rig. Faye follows him and the two of them declare their eternal love for each other.

{{Castlist|

• Ryan Gosling as BV
• Michael Fassbender as Cook
• Rooney Mara as Faye
• Natalie Portman as Rhonda
• Cate Blanchett as Amanda
• Lykke Li as Lykke
• Val Kilmer as Duane
• Bérénice Marlohe as Zoey
• Holly Hunter as Miranda
• Tom Sturridge as BV's Brother
• Austin Amelio as BV's Brother
• Linda Emond as Judy, BV's Mother

}}

Florence Welch, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, The Black Lips, Alan Palomo, John Lydon, Flea, Spank Rock, Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, Josh Klinghoffer, First Aid Kit, Erik Sprague and Big Freedia, all make cameo appearances in the film. Jeremy O. Harris, Heather Kafka, Camille Natta, and Savannah Welch all appear uncredited.

In November 2011 it was announced that Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara and Haley Bennett had been cast in the film. The film was originally titled Lawless, but Malick allowed filmmaker John Hillcoat to use the title for his 2012 film.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/natalie-portman-joins-terrence-malicks-lawless-knight-of-cups|title=Natalie Portman Joins Terrence Malick's 'Lawless' & 'Knight of Cups'|first=Kevin|last=Jagernauth|work=IndieWire|date=February 8, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2014}} When the film was announced as in pre-production in November 2011 the production company was FilmNation Entertainment and its producers were Sarah Green and Nicolas Gonda.{{cite journal|first=Diana|last=Lodderhose|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/bale-blanchett-to-star-in-two-terrence-malick-pics-1118045399/|title=Bale, Blanchett to star in two Terrence Malick pics|journal=Variety|date=November 1, 2011|access-date=October 19, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wearefilmnation.com/coming-soon/2011/11/21/lawless.html|title=Lawless|publisher=FilmNation Entertainment|date=November 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227003637/http://www.wearefilmnation.com/coming-soon/2011/11/21/lawless.html|archive-date=February 27, 2012}} In November 2012 it was announced that Bérénice Marlohe had joined the cast.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bond-girl-berenice-marlohe-joins-385792|work=The Hollywood Reporter|title=Bond Girl Berenice Marlohe Joins Terrence Malick's Latest All-Star Drama (Exclusive)|date=November 2, 2012|first=Borys|last=Kit|access-date=January 2, 2016}} It was revealed in March 2015 the title was Weightless.{{cite web|url=http://thefilmstage.com/news/terrence-malick-sets-title-for-austin-set-drama-with-ryan-gosling-rooney-mara-michael-fassbender-more/|title=Terrence Malick Sets Title For Forthcoming Drama With Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara & More|first=Leonard|last=Pearce|work=The Film Stage|date=March 27, 2015|access-date=March 27, 2015}} In February 2016 Sarah Green confirmed the title was Weightless, but it was later changed to Song to Song.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWu4tdwIVls|title=SBIFF 2016 - Centerpiece Film "Knight of Cups" Sarah Green Interview|publisher=Santa Barbara International Film Festival via YouTube|date=February 8, 2016|access-date=February 9, 2016}} In December 2016 it was announced that Iggy Pop, John Lydon, Arcade Fire, Alan Palomo, Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes and The Black Lips would appear in the film.{{cite web|url=http://theplaylist.net/michael-fassbender-plays-lucifer-like-character-terrence-malicks-weightless-shares-scenes-iggy-pop-john-lydon-20161229/|title=Michael Fassbender Plays A "Lucifer"-Like Character In Terrence Malick's 'Weightless,' Shares Scenes With Iggy Pop & John Lydon|website=The Playlist|first=Kevin|last=Jagernauth|date=December 29, 2016|access-date=December 29, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/neon_indian_-_alan_palomo_on_acting_scoring_and_vega_intl._night_school/|title=Neon Indian - Alan Palomo on Acting, Scoring, and "VEGA INTL. Night School"|website=Under the Radar Magazine|first=Austin|last=Trunick|date=January 13, 2016|access-date=December 29, 2016}}

Rooney Mara said in December 2011 that filming was scheduled to begin in September 2012.{{cite magazine|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/12/26/rooney-mara-dragon-tattoo-qa/|title=Rooney Mara talks future projects, promoting 'Dragon Tattoo': 'Everyone is like, So, the rape scene. Was that hard?'|first=Rob|last=Brunner|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=December 26, 2011|access-date=April 1, 2014}} That month, scenes were shot in Austin, Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/349196/ryan-gosling-kisses-rooney-mara-pretty-pair-shoots-scenes-for-terrence-malick-movie|title=Ryan Gosling Kisses Rooney Mara: Pretty Pair Shoots Scenes for Terrence Malick Movie|first=Brandi|last=Fowler|work=E! News|date=September 26, 2012|access-date= April 1, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/ryan-gosling-rooney-mara-sizzle-austin-set-terrence-malick-directed-music-drama-article-1.1169805|title=Ryan Gosling & Rooney Mara sizzle on the Austin set of Terrence Malick-directed music drama|first=Ethan|last=Sacks|work=Daily News|location=New York City|date=September 27, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2014}} In March 2012 Alan Palomo of Neon Indian shot scenes for the film.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/45860-neon-indians-alan-palomo-shoots-scenes-for-terrence-malick-film-with-rooney-mara/|title=Neon Indian's Alan Palomo Shoots Scenes for Terrence Malick Film With Rooney Mara|work=Pitchfork Media|first=Jenn|last=Pelly|date=March 21, 2012|access-date=January 19, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/neon_indian_-_alan_palomo_on_acting_scoring_and_vega_intl._night_school|title=Neon Indian - Alan Palomo on Acting, Scoring, and "VEGA INTL. Night School"|work=Under the Radar|first=Austin|last=Trunick|date=January 13, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2016}} In October 2012 Mara, Michael Fassbender, Florence Welch and Holly Hunter were spotted on set filming.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-rooney-mara-plays-with-black-lips-as-terrence-malick-returns-to-austin-city-limits-florence-welch-appears-with-cast-20121015|title=Watch: Rooney Mara Plays With Black Lips As Terrence Malick Returns To Austin City Limits; Florence Welch Appears With Cast|work=IndieWire|first=Kevin|last=Jagernauth|date=October 15, 2012|access-date=January 13, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/holly-hunter-latest-actor-to-join-probably-get-cut-out-of-terrence-malicks-next-film-20121004|title=Holly Hunter Latest Actor To Join, Probably Get Cut Out Of, Terrence Malick's Next Film|work=IndieWire|first=Oliver|last=Lyttelton|date=October 4, 2012|access-date=March 13, 2016}} Mara said in an interview that Patti Smith shot scenes for the film, playing herself.{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/rooney-mara-reveals-patti-smith-shot-scenes-for-terrence-malicks-austin-music-scene-movie-aka-weightless-20151028|title=Rooney Mara Reveals Patti Smith Shot Scenes For Terrence Malick's Austin Music Scene Movie aka 'Weightless'|work=IndieWire|date=October 28, 2015|access-date=October 31, 2015}} In November 2012 Val Kilmer was spotted filming.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/val-kilmer-black-lips-terrence-malick-386399|title=Val Kilmer Goes Wild On-Stage in Austin for Terrence Malick's Rock Film|date=November 5, 2012|access-date=2014-04-19|first=Jordan|last=Zakarin|work=The Hollywood Reporter}} Christian Bale only shot three days on the film, but his scenes were ultimately cut.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/christian-bale-knight-of-cups-interview-terrence-malick/|title=Christian Bale on 'Knight of Cups' and the Process of Working with Terrence Malick|work=Collider|first=Steve 'Frosty'|last=Weintraub|date=March 3, 2016|access-date=March 13, 2016}}

Post-production on the film took longer than expected because the film's eight-hour first cut required Malick to ask the financiers and studios more than once for additional time.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/terrence-malick-sxsw-song-to-song-1202041683/|title=Terrence Malick's 'Song To Song' Could Have Been A Miniseries – SXSW|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Brian|last=Brooks|date=March 11, 2017|access-date=March 11, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://theplaylist.net/watch-30-minute-song-song-talk-terrence-malick-says-first-cut-8-hours-20170311/|title=Watch: 30-Minute 'Song To Song' Talk With Terrence Malick, Says First Cut Was 8 Hours|website=ThePlaylist.net|first=Kevin|last=Jagernauth|date=March 11, 2017|access-date=March 11, 2017}}

In October 2013, Michael Fassbender provided voice-over that the actor said might be cut from the completed film: "I'm not sure [if I'm in the final cut]. I've got to go actually and do some more voice-over ... just like reams and reams of that."{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/michael-fassbender-says-still-more-work-to-do-on-malicks-austin-movie-william-friedkin-disses-to-the-wonder-20131030|title=Michael Fassbender Uncertain He'll Make The Cut In Terrence Malick's Austin Movie, William Friedkin Disses 'To The Wonder'|first=Kevin|last=Jagernauth|work=IndieWire|date=October 30, 2013|access-date=April 1, 2014}} Bale also expressed doubts about whether he would appear, saying in November 2013, "I unfortunately wasn't able to do everything I was meant to do, so I ended up doing like three, four days on that. Which in Terry's world means you're never going to see me in it."{{cite web|title=Oscar Nominee Christian Bale Holds His Roles to a High Standard, from 'American Hustle' to 'Out of the Furnace'|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/christian-bale-q-and-a?page=2|authorlink=Anne Thompson (film critic)|first=Anne|last=Thompson|work=IndieWire|date=November 27, 2013|access-date=April 1, 2014|archive-date=December 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218235953/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/christian-bale-q-and-a?page=2|page=2}} In January 2016 Mara revealed she did voice-over for the film.{{cite interview|interviewer=Joe McGovern|subject=Rooney Mara|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yUmZX2iS5U|title=Conversations with Rooney Mara of CAROL|work=SAG-AFTRA Foundation|publisher=YouTube|date=January 28, 2016|accessdate=February 9, 2016}}

Bale, Haley Bennett, Benicio del Toro, Arcade Fire, Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes, Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes and Angela Bettis were all cut from the film.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/71725-lykke-patti-iggy-and-more-every-musician-in-terrence-malicks-song-to-song/|title=Lykke, Patti, Iggy, and More: Every Musician in Terrence Malick's Song to Song|website=Pitchfork|first=Amy|last=Phillips|date=March 7, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/christian-bale-benicio-del-toro-haley-bennett-cut-terrence-malicks-song-song-sxsw/|title=Christian Bale, Benicio del Toro, Haley Bennett All Cut From Terrence Malick's 'Song to Song' at SXSW|website=The Wrap|first=Matt|last=Donnelly|date=March 10, 2017|access-date=March 11, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2017/03/trevante-rhodes-moonlight-interview|title='Moonlight' Star Trevante Rhodes Recalls That Crazy Oscar Win: "Am I Being Punk'd?"|website=Complex|first=Julian|last=Kimble|date=March 7, 2017|access-date=March 12, 2017}}

In February 2015 Broad Green Pictures acquired U.S distribution rights to the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/02/terrence-malicks-knight-of-cups-part-of-two-picture-broad-green-deal-berlin-1201368933/|title=Broad Green Confirms Terrence Malick Deal Starting With 'Knight Of Cups' – Update|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=February 12, 2015|access-date=August 14, 2016}} It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 10, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/malicks-song-to-song-to-open-sxsw-2017-as-initial-slate-announced-1201878875/|title=Terrence Malick's 'Song To Song' To Open SXSW 2017|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Ross|last=A. Lincoln|date=January 5, 2017|access-date=January 5, 2017}} The film was released on March 17, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/01/song-to-song-photo-terrence-malick-release-date-1201760632/|title='Song to Song' First Look: Terrence Malick's Austin-Set Romantic Drama Lands New Title and Official Premise (Exclusive)|website=IndieWire|first=Michael|last=Nordine|date=January 3, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2017}}

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 44% approval rating based on 131 critics and an average rating of 5.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "As visually sumptuous as it is narratively spartan, Terrence Malick's Song to Song echoes elements of the writer-director's recent work—for better and for worse."{{cite web|title=Song to Song (2017)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/song_to_song|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date=July 18, 2019}} On Metacritic the film holds a rating of 55 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/song-to-song|title=Song to Song|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=March 14, 2017}}

In a five-star review for The Independent, Christopher Hooton claimed that it has become fashionable among critics to ridicule Malick's recent films, but that given a chance the film is a "masterpiece" and even "life-changing".{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/terrence-malick-song-to-song-review-2017-ryan-gosling-rooney-mara-michael-fassbender-natalie-portman-a7624316.html#commentsDiv|title=Terence Malick's Song to Song feels like when you want to cry but can't: ★★★★★ review|date=March 11, 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=March 12, 2017|language=en-GB}} In Entertainment Weekly, Joe McGovern derided it as "incoherent, disconnected, self-interrupting, obsessed with pointless minutiae and crammed full of odd, limp stabs at profundity [...] you’ll find yourself searching in the margins of each shot for something or someone tangible to grasp onto."{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/03/11/song-to-song-ew-review/|title=Song to Song: EW review|last=McGovern|first=Joe|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 11, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2017}}

Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gave the film two and a half out of four stars. Although he had always praised Malick's work and style in the past ("I don't believe that the Austin-based director has ever made a bad movie"), he wrote that Song to Song "is the first Malick film I’ve watched where the dots never came together to form a legible image", emphasizing the film's need for more "rhetorical connective tissue" that would further connect to the film's themes as well as better characterizations, because of the film's highly chaotic nature. Seitz concluded that the film is "a brainy concept album made up of B-sides and filler. The musicianship is superb but the songs needed work."{{cite web|last1=Seitz|first1=Matt Zoller|title=Song to Song Movie Review & Film Summary (2017)|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/song-to-song-2017|website=RogerEbert.com|publisher=Ebert Digital LLC|access-date=March 17, 2017|date=March 17, 2017}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.songtosongmovie.com/}}
• {{IMDb title|2062700}}
• {{Mojo title|songtosong}}
• {{Metacritic film}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes|m/song_to_song}}

{{Terrence Malick}}

Category:2017 films

Category:2017 LGBTQ-related films

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Category:2010s romantic musical films

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Category:American romantic drama films

Category:American romantic musical films

Category:2010s English-language films

Category:FilmNation Entertainment films

Category:Films directed by Terrence Malick

Category:Films shot in Austin, Texas

Category:Films shot in Mexico

Category:LGBTQ-related musical drama films

Category:LGBTQ-related romantic drama films

Category:Films set in Austin, Texas

Category:Films set in Mexico

Category:2010s American films

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Category:English-language romantic drama films

Category:English-language romantic musical films

Category:2017 musical films