Release Date – 11th April 2025, Cert – 15, Run-time – 1 hour 40 minutes, Directors – Kevin Macdonald, Sam Rice-Edwards
John Lennon and Yoko Ono arrive in New York peacefully, and looking to spread peace and love, however American society at the time displays the opposite of this, including towards them, leading them to put together the One To One concerts.
Part concert film, part portrait of 1970s America, One To One is the world as seen through the eyes of John and Yoko. Arriving in New York City the pair are looking for a calm life where days of watching TV can fuel their creativity in both music and activism – clips of shows and adverts from the time crop up every now and then. While a young group of singers may claim they want to buy the world a Coke and sing in harmony the Vietnam War continues, with the central couple passionately speaking out against it.
Early on I realised that despite having heard a good deal of his music and a couple of images I knew very little about John Lennon, and almost nothing about Yoko Ono outside of rumours and theories relating to The Beatles. Kevin Macdonald and Sam Rice-Edwards’ documentary shows the two in a naturalistic light. One where they’re aware of their celebrity and how they can use it to spread their message of peace and love but clips of phone calls and their personal lives show two people passionate about the causes they believe in and the projects they work on to push them. Lennon particularly comes across as a really nice, passionate guy, even as the threat of being deported from America for his words and actions, whilst trying to look after his family grows.
The events of the film build up to the One To One concerts, Lennon’s only full live concert appearance after the breakup of The Beatles. The concert sequences are designed to be played big and loud. At an early morning screening the sound felt as if it caused the room to vibrate, with further energy pouring from the screen visuals of the concert where each performer on stage puts their whole self into the music and the cause at hand. One which is effectively built up to as both a singular point and encompassing the film as a whole. Not just in regards to the relationship between Ono and Lennon, which takes something of a secondary theme, but the depiction of America at the time which is so core to why the film works and has the impact that it does. Why the protests and acts of activism throughout have the effect that they do. With a handful of conversations relating to them bringing a smile through both the passion with which things are being spoken about and the purely entertaining nature of the film.
One To One is a film about many different relationships; that of the titular couple, theirs with America, America’s with its citizens, with itself, the world and those within society. They blend together seamlessly within the grander portrait constructed as part of the footage which makes up much of the documentary. Coming together with ease, a number of which naturally crop up as part of other themes and relationships. Giving a greater insight into the world as it was seen, and reacted to, by John and Yoko, and those around them. It makes for an interesting and enjoyable documentary that’s made to be seen loud with energy coming from both the highlight concert sequences and the passion being exuded by the pair at the fore of the concert’s music.
A portrait of early-70s America as seen through the eyes of John and Yoko, One To One is an entertainingly passionate documentary naturally capturing multiple relationships while still feeling focused, see it big and loud.
Just A Little Bit Random 