"The Only One" is romantic but is it romance?
"The Only One" (possibly also known as "Horse Latitudes") is an excellent movie. It is beautiful, confident, and understated.
The main character is a globetrotting rootless woman who reinserts herself into the life of an ex she left six years earlier. Is she looking for a long-term relationship or is she simply recycling an old fling as a diversion while she's figuring out where to go next?
The object of her attention, and perhaps affection, is a quietly charming and competent man who runs a winery in France. He has structured his life around the routine and requirements of the business, but it soon becomes clear that he's struggling with the demands of his situation.
There is a straight-forward core plot that vaguely guides the action, but most of the story is a continuous revelation of the two main characters' personalities, backgrounds, and desires that culminate with life altering decisions. The pacing is stellar and the movie doesn't resort to over the top emotional outbursts to create tension.
I'm not a fan of flashbacks but the director Noah Gilbert and his writer-brother Seth make very good use of them to flesh out the characters and show nuances that the characters' reminiscing don't capture.
Unless you need explosions or jumpscares in order to enjoy a movie "The Only One" is one worth watching.
- Director: Noah Gilbert
- Writer: Seth Gilbert
- Cast: Caitlin Stasey (Tom), Jon Beavers (David), Hugo Armstrong (Rob)