In this modern love story set against the Austin, Texas music scene, two entangled couples — struggling songwriters Faye (Rooney Mara) and BV (Ryan Gosling), and music mogul Cook (Michael Fassbender) and the waitress whom he ensnares (Natalie Portman) — chase success through a rock ‘n’ roll landscape of seduction and betrayal.
Song to Song is a 2017 American experimental drama romance film written and directed by Terrence Malick, starring an ensemble cast including Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman. The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 10, 2017, before being released on March 17, 2017, by Broad Green Pictures.
Rooney Mara said in December 2011 that filming was scheduled to begin in September 2012. That month, scenes were shot in Austin, Texas. In March 2012, Alan Palomo of Neon Indian shot scenes for the film. In October 2012, Mara, Michael Fassbender, Florence Welch and Holly Hunter were spotted on set filming. Mara said in an interview that Patti Smith shot scenes for the film, playing herself. In November 2012, Val Kilmer was spotted filming. Christian Bale only shot three days on the film.
Post-production on the film took longer than expected due to the film’s extensive eight-hour length first cut, due to this Malick had to approach the financiers and studios more than once, in order to complete the film.
In October 2013, Michael Fassbender provided voice-over that the actor said may be cut from the completed film, stating, “I’m not sure [if I’m in the final cut]. I’ve got to go actually and do some more voice-over… just like reams and reams of that.” Bale also expressed doubts about whether he would appear, saying in November 2013, “I unfortunately wasn’t able to do everything I was meant to do, so I ended up doing like three, four days on that. Which in Terry’s world means you’re never going to see me in it.” In January 2016, Mara revealed she did voice-over for the film.
Christian Bale, Haley Bennett, Benicio Del Toro, Arcade Fire, Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes, Boyd Holbrook and Trevante Rhodes were all cut from the film.
Song to Song (2017)
Directed by: Terrence Malick
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Natalie Portman, Michael Fassbender, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Val Kilmer, Benicio Del Toro, Holly Hunter, Bérénice Marlohe
Screenplay by: Terrence Malick
Production Design by: Jack Fisk
Cinematography by: Emmanuel Lubezki
Film Editing by: Rehman Nizar Ali, Brian Berdan, Hank Corwin, A.J. Edwards, Keith Fraase
Costume Design by: Jacqueline West
Set Decoration by: David Hack
Art Direction by: Ruth De Jong
MPAA Rating: R for some sexuality, nudity, drug use and language.
Distributed by: Broad Green Pictures
Release Date: March 17, 2017