Films to see

John and Yoko: A Love Story is a beautiful film about two people in love. It is a refreshing take on a familiar story, and it delivers all it promises.

What differentiates this film from the host of films about The Beatles is that it is not about The Beatles. They do enter the story in several instances, which can be expected, but ultimately, it's a story of John and Yoko. It is factually accurate, and yet it manages to avoid seeming like a documentary. The viewer will get transported into their world and experience the story from within.

It is a successful film in all aspects. There are many examples of extremely good directing, and there is just the right amount of foreshadowing without spreading gloom unnecessarily. The music is exquisite. The film uses new recordings of Lennon's (and other's) songs, and they are extremely close to the originals and perhaps even better (pardon the heresy), which comes to show the brilliant casting of this film. The plot overs almost 15 years of story, meaning the lead actors have to play considerably older characters than themselves as the film progresses. This is done gracefully and they remain believable until the end credits.

In terms of the film's suitability for younger viewers, the film shouldn't present any problems in this respect. The end of the story is portrayed in a sensitive way that shouldn't be too upsetting. The film mentions drugs and there is a scene featuring drunkenness, but these things are not elevated in the film (quite the opposite), and so it won't send the wrong message. Sex is implied in the film but never shown or mentioned explicitly. Some parental discretion is therefore recommended, but watching this film with more understanding small children should be OK.

John and Yoko: A Love Story is a lovely portrayal of the story of John and Yoko, it's a high-quality film, a delight to watch, and you'll probably want to watch it again just for the music.