A Beautiful Life movie 2023 Review

Genre: Drama, Music, Romance

Original Language: Danish

Director: Mehdi Avaz

Producer: Julie Rix Bomholt, Anna Malmkjær Willumsen

Writer: Stefan Jaworski

Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2023

Runtime: 1h 39m

Distributor: Netflix

Production Co: Den Vestdanske Filmpulje, Rocket Road Pictures, SF Studios Production AB

Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Mehdi Avaz's A Beautiful Life is a musical drama that follows the journey of Elliott, a talented singer. Elliott, a young fisherman, leads a mundane life, working tirelessly for meager pay. However, Suzanne, an established music manager, discovers his hidden talent as a singer who recognizes his potential to captivate audiences. She offers him an escape from his ordinary existence and convinces him to pursue a music career.

Elliott seizes this opportunity, driven by the desire to earn more and experience a life beyond his routine. He agrees to spend time at Suzanne's place, where he is paid weekly. Soon, he realizes that his role involves more than casual singing; he is expected to perform and record songs for Suzanne's late husband's fanbase.

A Beautiful Life employs an underdog narrative structure to explore Elliott's journey as he grapples with love, ambition, and inner demons. He meets Lilly, Suzanne's daughter, and a talented music composer, who joins him on his path despite initial hesitation. Their relationship follows a conventional arc, evolving from a lack of attraction to a deep infatuation. Meanwhile, Elliott's music career faces predictable ups and downs as he navigates newfound fame and the skepticism of those from his past.

Amidst the challenges of the music industry, Elliott must confront his true motivations and the intended recipients of his heartfelt lyrics. While battling external pressures, he also faces personal truths about himself and his artistic expression.

The pain and tragedy in Elliott's life are familiar tropes in artist-driven works. A Beautiful Life's plotline echoes the narrative of A Star is Born, which has been depicted in previous iterations. Although I cannot compare it to the 1954 version by George Cukor, Bradley Cooper's 2018 adaptation stands out due to his chemistry with Lady Gaga and the soulful tracks that anchor the film's emotional resonance.

A Beautiful Life achieves a certain degree of success in this aspect. Christopher's performance adds depth to the narrative beyond a simple sob story. His on-screen chemistry with Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas is strikingly portrayed.

However, A Beautiful Life's songs sometimes match Christopher's extraordinary singing voice. While they attempt to reflect Elliott's struggle to find a person to dedicate his music to, they need more appealing melodies. While not all songs are poor, none leave a lasting impression. In contrast, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's "Shallow" from A Star Is Born still evokes strong emotions. A Beautiful Life, unfortunately, fails to reach that level of impact.

Being a Netflix production may have influenced the film's outcome. Certain elements seem tailored to appeal to a wider, global audience, resulting in a feeling of inauthenticity. Consequently, while A Beautiful Life has soulful moments, it is ultimately forgotten.

Furthermore, the film's portrayal of music could be better. While singing is a powerful form of expression, the music in A Beautiful Life fails to impress. Despite Christopher's evident talent, the quality of the songs featured in the film is uniformly subpar. One particular upbeat number felt like a parody, but unfortunately, it was not. When a music-centered film fails to distinguish between good and bad music, it becomes a significant issue.

Overall, A Beautiful Life falls short of its aspirations. It lacks depth, originality, and the necessary conflicts to create a truly engaging and emotionally resonant narrative. The film's attempt to cater to a wide audience compromises its artistic integrity, resulting in a forgettable and uninspiring experience.