Short Film Review: The One Man Note | My Soho Times

We continue our Cinema Season with a review of BAFTA and OSCAR qualified short film, The One Man Note. The film stars Jason Watkins (The Crown), Louisa Clein (Emmerdale), Crystal Yu (Dr Who), Paul Barber (The Full Monty) and the voice of Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings). Without dialogue, One Man Note features an original score by Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love, Billy Elliot). Soho-based filmmaker Angela Fealy shares more…

Nestling into any short film is always a treat, as this is the perfect art form for a filmmaker to tackle their passion subject. However, this particular short film captures our attention instantly, with the comforting sound of Ian McKellen’s velvet tones. We are hooked and in safe hands until the end credits.

A monotonous daily routine sees Jason Watkins’ character, a bassoonist whose orchestral role requires him to play just a single note, descend into his own personal “Groundhog Day” type existence. Same routine, different day, same one note… and off home again.

Until the day he looks across the stage and boom, Cupid’s arrow hits hard as his eye beholds violinist, Louisa Klein. In his mind she is the most heavenly creature on earth. The more he tries (and fails) to gain her attention, the more it inhibits his ability to play his one note.

With perfect comedic timing, and subtle but effective classic British humour, things start to unravel for the One Note Man, as his hopes of building up the nerve to approach his potential love interest come to naught. Now unable to manage even his sole note, he has to contend with the one person who has definitely noticed him, the stern and efficient orchestra conductor (Crystal Yu) who is getting increasing irritated.

With not a line of dialogue, each character is perfectly framed, organically filmed and sympathetically lit as the tempo of the film picks up and we root for our One Note Man to finally pluck up the courage to deliver the flowers he buys but sadly bins every day. This montage is cleverly crafted as each day is shot slightly differently, even though the routine remains the same. Director George Siougas doesn’t miss a beat (pun intended!) and has the audience in the palm of his hand. A brief but witty cameo by Paul Barber as a florist, helps bring the essence of a hopeful love story to fruition.

The One Note Man is held together beautifully by an original score from Academy Award winning composer, Stephen Warbuck (Shakespeare In Love, Billy Elliot). The tempo of the music forms the heart of the piece, speeding up and subsiding with our hero’s almost farcical mission to get the girl, but also reminding us of the more poignant moments in a life that had previously held little meaning. Without words, the music is our guide.

Jason Watkins is a natural in this role, effortlessly taking on both the physical comedy and the poignant depiction of a deeply lonely man. An absolute delight from start to finish, this film is sure to be a crowd pleaser on the film festival circuit. This is truly a filmmakers’ film, from the immaculate cinematography, razor-sharp editing, superb casting and captivating music, right down to audience anticipation, with everyone rooting for One Note Man to finally hit the right one and get the girl of his dreams.

Written by Angela Fealy @fealyfilms