The One Note Man is a 2023 British short comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by George Siougas. It stars Jason Watkins, Louisa Clein, Crystal Yu, and Paul Barber, and is narrated by Ian McKellen. Sam Claflin is one of the executive producers.[1] Watkins plays a bassoonist, who has a strict routine that involves bicycling to an opera house to play one note on his bassoon in an orchestra everyday. Aside from the narration, which is brief, the film has no dialogue.[1]
| The One Note Man | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | George Siougas |
| Written by | George Siougas |
| Produced by | George Siougas Luke Carroll Michael Stevenson |
| Starring | Jason Watkins Louisa Clein Crystal Yu Paul Barber |
| Narrated by | Ian McKellen |
| Cinematography | Matt North |
| Edited by | Russell Beeden |
| Music by | Stephen Warbeck |
Release date |
|
Running time | 21 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Cast
edit- Jason Watkins as One Note Man
- Louisa Clein as Violinist
- Crystal Yu as Conductor
- Paul Barber as Florist
- Daman Bamrah as Nodding Man
- Alexandra Laurence as Woman on Bench
- Lewis Murphy-Parry as Man on Bench
- Ian McKellen as Storyteller
Background
editThe film is an adaptation of H. M. Bateman's "The One-Note Man", which first appeared in Punch on December 14, 1921. In the cartoon, the One-Note Man is a clarinetist.[2] Alfred Hitchcock used it as an inspiration for the cymbal player in The Man Who Knew Too Much.[3]
Reception
editBenjamin Franz of Film Threat gave it a score of 9 out of 10 and wrote, "This is a glorious short film. It’s quite possibly the most enchanting Christmas time fable I have witnessed in years."[4] Chris Olson of UK Film Review gave it five stars and wrote, "Irresistibly charming and poignant, short film The One Note Man delivers a rousing tale of one man's stagnant existence being galvanized by a disruption to his own clockwork routine by a loose thread on his jacket."[5]
Accolades
editThe One Note Man won the Grand Prize for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2023 Rhode Island International Film Festival.[6][1] It won the Audience Award for Best Live-Action Short at the 2024 Palm Springs International ShortFest.[7] It was also shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy Awards,[8] but was not nominated.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c "'Hunger Games' Star Sam Claflin Boards Ian McKellen-Narrated Short 'The One Note Man' as Executive Producer". Variety. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ Bateman, H.M. "The One-Note Man", Punch. December 14, 1921. 474–477.
- ^ Truffaut, François. Alfred Hitchcock - A Definitive Study. Simon & Schuster, 1967. 62–3.
- ^ "The One Note Man". Film Threat. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "The One Note Man". UK Film Review. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "George Siougas' The One Note Man Has Qualified for Oscar Consideration". The National Herald. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "ShortFest Awards & Jury". Palm Springs International Film Society. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Oscar Shortlists In 10 Categories Announced: 'Barbie', 'Oppenheimer', 'Maestro' & More". Deadline. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Oscar Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here". Vanity Fair. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.