When I first saw the trailer of Hearts Beat Loud, I knew I would enjoy it. I just didn’t know I was going to love it as much as I did. A music-centric coming-of-age story centered around a father and daughter.
Here is a quick synopsis:
In the hip, Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook, single dad and record store owner Frank is preparing to send his hard-working daughter Sam off to college while being forced to close his vintage shop. Hoping to stay connected through their shared musical passions, Frank urges Sam to turn their weekly jam sessions into a father-daughter live act. After their first song becomes an internet breakout, the two embark on a journey of love, growing up and musical discovery.
I think Nick Offerman is a genius and this movie showed us a different side to his acting. Viewers know him as either the gruff government worker or strict father, a real man’s man with that impressive moustache. He is definitely all those things but this movie showed such a softer side to him, that I think better represents who he is in real life. His relationship with his daughter was so extremely special. He was trying so hard to find a way to hold on to her so that she wouldn’t leave, even though he knew deep down in his heart that going to school was the right thing for her to do.
Another thing that was extremely poignant and important in this movie was the LGBTQ+ representation. The character of Sam is a lesbian and meets a girl a month before she leaves to move across the country for school. Despite being together for such a short amount of time, they fall in love. The thing that made all of this so refreshing was that being gay wasn’t made to be a part of her story arc or even a big deal in the movie. The writers treated this female/female relationship as if it was a hetero relationship that is shown to be the norm in media. There was no coming out story— Her relationship was used in the same way a straight romantic subplot was used.
The music was also really incredible and the lead actress has such a great voice. I went home right after seeing the movie to download the soundtrack. All I could think about was how much this movie made me think of my dad—the clothes, the music, everything. The opening shot is Nick Offerman’s character in his record store, watching a live performance of Jeff Tweedy from Wilco. This is literally my dad. And then Tweedy pops in with a cameo in the record shop and it made me so happy, especially because my dad now lives across the country for work. I wish I could have seen this movie with him.
This movie is, so far, my favorite of the year.
Lindsay Glenne 