Thanks to a well-wisher named Anand Srinivasan, Vice President and Business Head – International Repertoire at Universal Music India, this writer was invited to attend the viewing of rockumentary ‘One To One: John & Yoko’ as the closing film on 23^rd March at this year’s BookMyShow-initiated Red Lorry Film Festival, held in Mumbai.

It was befitting too as the legacy of Beatles member John Lennon continuesas his composition, “Now And Then”, winning this year’s Grammy Awards (held on 2^nd February) for his band in the category of ‘Best Rock Performance’, a song built from a 1970s demo of Lennon’s. It was followed a month later by the celebration of the 50th anniversary of fellow Beatle Paul McCartney-fronted Wings’ fourth studio album, ‘Venus And Mars’, being re-issued on 21^st March 2025 (https://www.musicunplugged.in/reviews/vinyl_reviews_info/267/0).

Barring a trailer released in mid-March, there was little to give away, if at all, where the film was heading. However, on viewing it, the footage focuses on John Lennon and Yoko Ono spending 18 months in New York City in a humble two-bedroom flat located in the suburb of Greenwich Village, which Lennon wants the viewer to believe was merely to watch TV. The movie, however, helps us discover that the truth was way beyond merely staring at what was once known as the idiot box as director Kevin MacDonald, along with co-directorSam Rice-Edwards, utilize the 30^th August, 1972 ‘One To One Benefit Concert’(actually two of them), held at Madison Square Garden, as the back drop for providing anotherrecord of Lennon’s genius.

Nevertheless, were it not for Lennon and Ono’s watchful TV eyes, they would have probably missed Geraldo Rivera’s expose of the Willowbrook State School that revealed the inhumane treatment of mainly youngsters who suffer from mental disabilities, footage of which is truly harrowing. It was obvious that Lennon and Ono were sufficiently moved by what they saw for Lennon to announce that what they witnessed was “almost symbolic of all the pain on Earth”.

During the ‘One To One’ concerts, which raised $1.5 million for the School, the songs featured included New York City, Instant Karma, Imagine, Give Peace A Chance featuring a guest appearance by Stevie Wonder, the emotional Mother (“you had me, but I never had you…you left me, but I never left you”), and a buzzfrom the Beatles repertoire provided through a rendition of Come Together. It is also notable for the cacophony of Ono performing her Don't Worry Kyoko live that is also capturedin this remastered recording that sounds so strong, powerful, and fresh that it almost makes the listener believe their presence at the memorable event.

The narrative also features footage from TV serials, commercials, and news segments, interspersed with interviews with Lennon and Ono, unseen archives, home movies, and taped phone calls. Humour arrives through multiple references about personal assistant May Pang attempting to procure flies – yes, you read right –  for a Yoko Ono art project.

There is a mention of India too, ranging froma below-the-belt reference of the Indian brass lota (for the uninitiated, it is a handle-free round water pot) to footage of the Hare Krishna movement.

The world certainly appears to be living in suspended animation. Everything shown of the ‘70s in ‘One To One’, which has actor Brad Pitt as one of the executive producers, sees an era that several readers would have lived through (including this writer), and remains as relevant today for the Gen Alpha audience as it did then (without the internet): war, genocide, drugs, human exploitation, political upheavals, discrimination…please be liberal in adding to the list.

Yes, it may be 55 years since the “demise” of the Beatles, but they continue to live on through nostalgia of the past – including via this rockumentary, ‘One To One’– providing yet another reminder of how the fab four remain a present for the future.

Cast: John Lennon, Yoko One

Directed by: Kevin MacDonald (along withSam Rice-Edwards)

Duration: 100 minutes

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Parag Kamani

Parag Kamani has been part of the media and entertainment industry across 35 years, having worked for licensors such as Warner Music and EMI/Virgin in music, as well as Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures in the field of films. Parag continues pursuing his passion as a profession.