Farewell Song

I often complain about any original songs in WLW films. As much as I say I want more sapphic songs in cinema, I’m out here policing so many of them as “embarrassing” or “uncatchy.” Not today! Not because I’ve turned a corner and hold higher respect for the art of music. No, it’s because the music in Farewell Song is just really good. Get ready to yearn in harmony , because Farewell Song will make you do just that.

Haru and Leo make up the popular music duo, Haruleo. Though at the start of the film, band manager Shima confirms that following the conclusion of their tour, Haruleo will disband. The film then takes a non-linear approach. Flashbacks of the duo meeting and forming a band are intercut with scenes in the present day full of unspoken distance. While largely unspoken and not onscreen, there’s clearly some strong romantic feelings plaguing all three lead characters. Haru and Leo harmonize on very yearning songs yet Haru maintains distance from Leo. Shima opines that band members dating is bad though still clearly carries a torch for Haru. But for Haru, the music comes first so she keeps both at a distance that grows larger and colder over time.

Much goes unsaid in Farewell Song. It’s like jazz. It’s about the notes you don’t play. Or in this case, the things you don’t say. It’s actually the music that paints the clearest or at least, most emotional portrait of Haruleo. This is where the yearning gets a voice. There’s some real tragedy that the most truthful these women can be is in their art, but not their life outside of that. There’s also a real tragedy in how these songs affect their audience. Haruleo have a devoted fanbase, many of whom are women. There’s a small subplot of two female fans who sing their songs to one another and seem to eventually end up in a relationship. The music of Haruleo lead to their actual romance. But for the actual Haru and Leo, the feelings they talk about in the music are doomed to stay there.

The premise of Farewell Song evokes Challengers for me. Though it’s a quieter, less sexy film than Challengers. The similarly is that both films are about a mixed gender love triangle with an additional element. In Challengers, it’s tennis. Zendaya loves tennis more than she cares for the love given or received from either of the other human leads. Likewise in Farewell Song, Haru’s first love and priority is the music. As much as she feels for other people, the music must come first. For her, intimacy with Leo is sharing these songs with her, harmonizing on the lyrics of overt longing. Tragically, Leo has a more traditional approach and wants a traditional romance with Haru, music be dammed. Leo is Haru’s muse for the music she loves. But by pushing her away, she loses that muse as well as the potential human connection she could have with Leo.

Farewell Song is more slice of life than many music movies I’ve seen. So much of the film is about the everyday and the mundane. And the unspoken. While unspoken, the depth of feeling between the leads is clear and ever-present. Add onto that the songs which are both good and further develop the relationship and emotions. This is such a well-structured, subtle movie. I really recommend it and even its soundtrack. I’ve had that title song in my head for days. Now I’m just waiting to find the girl who will harmonize those lyrics with me.

Overall rating: 7.1/10

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