One Day

One Day - Once A Year - Perhaps
One Day, PG-13, ***, Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Jodie Whitaker. Focus Features film. Director Lone Scherfig. Length: 108 minutes.

“One Day” is the title of the film which refers to Emma (Anne Hathaway, and Dexter (Jim Sturgess). At the beginning of the film they graduate from the University of Edinburgh on July 15, 1988. Several of the college students are celebrating this occasion. Emma and Dexter met during their school time at Edinburgh, but the self-centered Dexter does not remember.
Of course, she remembers him, because he is charismatic and popular. Unfortunately, Emma is not very out going and appears to be a little homely. However, she is really a beautiful girl with lots of attributes to offer. It seems she is a little shy without self esteem.
They decide to spend the night together, but it is strictly platonic. Dexter and Emma realize that they have created an extraordinary friendship bond. Choosing to meet every year on July 15 in order to keep up with the progress they are making in the real world of life, the two manage to keep from missing too many graduation anniversary dates on every July 15.
It seems that Dexter does not keep every anniversary date, but he does not miss many of the July 15 special days each year. Emma is the rock that Dexter has to lean on when times get bad for him, and he does have some tough periods along the road of life.
Dexter wants to find himself while living a life of egotistical selfish desires. Emma is searching for a meaningful life through writing. She works as a waitress and a teacher while pursing her desire to write a book.
Dexter becomes a superficial television producer while pursuing his worldly activities. One of their meetings becomes extremely hostile which is unusual for Emma and personal for me and others in the profession that many of us have chosen. Emma tells Dexter she is a teacher now.
Dexter replies with the ridiculous quote, “Those who can - do – “Those who cannot - teach.” I prefer my own version, “Those who care about students and the future – teach – Those who want to become rich do something else.” Dexter chooses his profession for selfish reasons while Emma has a passion for helping others.
Dexter ends up getting married to a socialite without personality, character, or compassion. Of course, it is doomed from the beginning. His life begins to fall apart, and he finally realizes how much he needs Emma. Regrettably, Emma is in a relationship. As Gilda Radner would say, “It’s Always Something.”
Well, maybe and maybe not. Emma is a caring person, and she delivers a message we can all learn from. Our life is about doing for others and not being selfish. The film is about the good, bad, and ugly we must face in life. Giving the audience lots of food for thought, I recommend the film for a strong look at life and its ups and downs, tragedies and accomplishments along with the fact that sometimes life is not fair.
It did drag a little during each year while the audience waits for July 15 to roll around. Looking at the two personalities of Dexter and Emma, we understand in many ways they are both free spirits. She likes creativity through writing, movies, and plays. He likes spontaneous behavior for selfish reasons. One of the memorable lines happens when Dexter says he will take Emma to a movie with subtitles. He knows that she enjoys the versatile creative portions of artists and originality. She is really a remarkable character.
The movie is based on the novel by David Nichollis.