Terrence Malick's "Song to Song" is a pretty polarizing movie, having divided many of the critics who saw it. For one thing, the style of the film is quite experimental, and it doesn't follow a familiar linear narrative. Set within the music scene in Austin, Texas, the film tracks two overlapping love triangles, pulling out themes of obsession, seduction, and of course, rock 'n' roll. Faye (Rooney Mara) and BV (Ryan Gosling) are struggling songwriters who meet Cook (Michael Fassbender), a successful music mogul. A waitress (Natalie Portman) also becomes wrapped up in their chaotic world.
It's difficult to really describe the plot of the film because there isn't much of one to speak of. An ambitious project hated and loved in equal measure, "Song to Song" can be best described in terms of the sign of Aquarius. Known as the humanitarians of the zodiac, Aquarians are eccentric, cerebral, and often deliberately esoteric. They tend to be more interested in the idea of humanity rather than individuals themselves, focusing on ideas rather than emotions. They desire personal freedom above all else, which means they often feel like outcasts.
"Song to Song" is certainly an esoteric, eccentric film, which is why the sign of Aquarius is an appropriate symbol. Aquarians, too, can be polarizing figures, and if you're an Aquarium yourself, there's a chance you might appreciate the film for its audacity alone. (The sweet cameos from the likes of Florence and the Machine and Patti Smith don't hurt either.)
