Music (2021)
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A newly sober drug dealer struggles to care for her nonverbal autistic half-sister while navigating her own personal demons.
The story
Newly sober alcoholic Kazu "Zu" Gamble becomes the sole guardian of her teenage, nonverbal autistic half-sister, Music, following the death of their grandmother, Millie. Zu continues to deal drugs to fund her dream of moving to Costa Rica. While struggling to care for Music, she forms a friendship with her neighbor, Ebo, a boxer who teaches children. Zu learns how to take care of Music with Ebo's help, but her life is complicated by her unemployment and her ongoing struggle with sobriety.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Newly sober alcoholic Kazu "Zu" Gamble is left as the sole guardian of her teenage, nonverbal autistic half-sister, Music, following the death of their grandmother, Millie. Zu deals drugs with her friend Rudy but is unable to pay him back. She forms a friendship with her neighbor, Ebo, a boxer who teaches children. Zu learns to care for Music with Ebo's help while continuing to deal drugs to fund a move to Costa Rica. After Ebo reveals his ex-wife left him for his brother, Zu promises to accompany him to their wedding. During a walk, Music is stung by a bee and hospitalized; Zu, unable to afford treatment and having lost her bag of drugs, suffers a relapse into drinking. During her intoxication, she admits to Ebo she is on probation. Meanwhile, a neighbor's son, Felix, is accidentally killed by his father during a fight. Zu brings Music to an adoption center but cannot leave her. They eventually join Ebo at his brother's wedding, where Zu and Ebo share a kiss on stage. Music interrupts and begins to sing herself. The film ends with the three of them happily preparing breakfast together, with Music receiving a new support dog arranged by Felix.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sia
- Writers
- Sia · screenplay; Dallas Clayton · screenplay; Sia · story
- Cast and characters
- Kate Hudson · Kazu "Zu" Gamble; Leslie Odom Jr. · Ebo Odom; Maddie Ziegler · Music Gamble; Héctor Elizondo · George; Mary Kay Place · Millie; Brandon Soo Hoo · Tanner; Tig Notaro · Radgicals TV show host; Alexandria Lee · Radgical
- Genres
- musical; drama
- Themes
- Autism representation; Sobriety; Sisterhood; Family
- Tone and mood
- Gritty; Magical; Empowering; Fantastical
- Premise and plot tags
- Musical; Drama; Independent; Directorial Debut
- Source material / true-story basis
- A one-page story written by Sia in 2007
- Reception
- The film was a commercial failure and received largely unfavorable reviews, primarily due to its depiction of autism. While some critics praised the music and visual style, many found the portrayal of disability to be offensive, cringeworthy, and misguided.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Nominated; Golden Globe · Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical · Nominated; Golden Raspberry · Worst Actress · Won; Golden Raspberry · Worst Supporting Actress · Won; Golden Raspberry · Worst Director · Won
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended as a non-musical film.; The character of Zu was originally planned to be male and was to be portrayed by Shia LaBeouf or Jonah Hill.; The film was first given the working title Sister.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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