If the viewer wants to spend free time watching a quality melodrama, then he should choose the film “One Day”. Actors and roles touch the heart simply because everything that happens in the film is reflected too vitally and truthfully. Of course, film critics found more than one “stone”, which they launched into the director of the film - Lona Scherfig. But from this the popularity of melodrama in the eyes of an ordinary layman did not become less.
Short story and filmmakers
It would seem that the plot of Lona Scherfig's melodrama is not very original: the main characters for many years have felt affection for each other, but for one reason or another they cannot be together. And when you still decide to step over your own fears and prejudices, time runs out, and one of the heroes dies. That, in fact, is all that is said in the film "One Day."
Actors Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturges play Emma and Dexter, who meet on July 15 at the university graduation. Dexter, like a notorious womanizer, first considers Emma as an object of desire, but a romantic evening does not add up, and young people remain friends.
Throughout the whole picture, the director shows the story of their life and relationships in about the same period - July 15, different years. The difference between Lona Scherfing’s film and all other melodramas is that the characters are not placed in some kind of romantic living conditions, they are not dominated by hostility of families or some historical circumstances: they do not take a step towards each other only by their own stupidity, and generally in the frame, everything is quite ordinary and realistic. That is why it is impossible not to believe in the story of Emma and Dexter. In these heroes it is easy to recognize someone from real life.
The film was shot based on the novel of the same name by David Nicholls.
"One Day": the actors of the film. Photo by Anne Hathaway
The role of Emma Morley went to the Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway.
Emma is shy and pinched, until she was 30, she had no idea what an attractive woman should look like. But at the same time, the girl is incredibly kind and human. Moreover, she has a talent for writing, but she does not use it because she does not believe in herself.
Dexter Emma fell in love from the first day they met. But knowing his character, she immediately decided that he was not for her and would never be able to love her as a woman. However, the girl continues to be his best friend and supports him in all situations. And it’s too late for Dexter to realize that he will not find a better woman for himself: Emma has already been married, divorced, made a career and found herself a pianist friend. Still, Morley is at risk: giving him a second chance, threatening: "If you leave me, Dexter ... I will kill you." They manage to live together just a few years before Emma dies in an accidental traffic accident.
The film “One Day” did not change Hathaway’s dynamic career. Rather, for the actress, the paintings “Les Miserables” and “The Dark Knight: The Renaissance” have more weight, but “One Day” still remains one of Ann's best works in the movies.
"One Day": actors. Jim Sturgess
Jim Sturgess is not as popular as his filming partner Ann Hathaway. However, he remarkably succeeded in playing the role of Dexter Mayhew, the protagonist of the melodrama One Day.
The actors of the film Sturgess and Hathaway, as already mentioned, play young people who feel affection for each other and even love, but do not fully realize this. To a greater extent, this applies to the hero of Jim: his Dexter is the son of a wealthy couple, a womanizer and prefers spectacular girls. He cannot even think of the idea that someone like Emma might be next to him. And only when Dexter goes a long difficult path, loses all the privileges that he used before, he will understand who is who in his life.
Rafe Spall as Ian
In the film One Day, actors Anne Hathaway and Rafe Spall play a married couple. Emma Morley married Ian because of female despair rather than love: Dexter showed no interest in her life, there was no one else on the horizon, and she agreed to the very first proposal she received.
Ian is trying to make a comedian career, but he does it very poorly. In financial terms, Emma has to actually “drag” the family on herself. Years of living together do not add a couple of touching feelings, so Emma soon disagrees with Ian and decides to start a new life. Subsequently, the main character writes a successful book and moves to live in France.
The actor Ralph Spall, who was played by Ian, can also be seen in the movie “Bucking” with Brad Pitt, in the drama “Black Mirror” and in the comedy “Friendship and No Sex?”
Patricia Clarkson as Mother Dexter
In Lona Scherfig's One Day, actors Patrice Clarkson and Ken Scott play Dexter's parents.
Alison and Stephen are wealthy people. They have long been retired and travel a lot. Alison and Stephen adore their son, they fully provided him financially, but prefer not to get into his personal life. Perhaps these greenhouse conditions spoiled Dexter, as he often does not show due respect to his parents.
So, for one of his mother’s birthdays, he comes up with a hangover, untidy and without a gift. At this point, Alison was already ill with cancer. Her son's antics do little to please her, but she understands that the time to educate him is missed. Not having temper tantrums, the woman in the last days of her life is trying to just talk heart-to-heart with Dexter in order to somehow return him to the right path. But all her attempts are unsuccessful, and soon Alison dies.
Ken Scott as Father Dexter
The film "One Day" was another screen work for actor
Ken Stott, who is known to viewers for his role as Bazdeev in the British film "War and Peace" and Balin in a series of films about The Hobbit, shot by Peter Jackson. In the picture of Lona, Sherfig Scott plays Father Dexter.
Romola Garay as Dexter's wife
While still a famous showman, Dexter meets Sylvia - a beautiful girl from a decent family, who does not match the rustic Emma Morley. After a while, he marries Sylvia, but he begins to have problems with work. As a result, Sylvia leaves for a more successful friend of Dexter. The role of the unfaithful wife went to Romola Garay ("The Last Days on Mars").
Other role performers
Also in the melodrama “One Day” you can see Jamie Sives (“Maleficent”), Jody Whittaker (“Classmates”), Amanda Fairbank-Hines (“Rebel Club”) and other English actors.