Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’, released in 2016, captured the hearts of millions of viewers worldwide and became a true cultural phenomenon. This musical drama starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone not only won six Academy Awards, including Best Director, but also stood out for its unusual, at times melancholic ending, which was initially envisioned differently.
La La Land is more than just a musical; it is both a love letter to cinema and a tribute to the great musicals of the past. The film’s title is not accidental: “La La Land” refers to Los Angeles, the city where many of the musicals that shaped American film history were made.
One of the highlights of the film is undoubtedly its soundtrack, composed by Justin Hurwitz. Songs like Another Day of Sun and City of Stars became hits and earned the film two Oscars: Best Original Song (City of Stars) and Best Original Score.
At the center of the story is pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), who dreams of opening his own jazz club, and aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone), who longs for fame in Hollywood. Their meeting and subsequent romance drive the narrative, with their mutual support helping each of them pursue their dreams. Interestingly, Ryan Gosling turned down the role of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast to fully dedicate himself to preparing for La La Land.
While Sebastian and Mia eventually achieve their professional goals—Mia becomes a movie star, and Sebastian opens his club—their personal story ends with separation. This ending provoked a strong reaction from audiences, many of whom expected a traditional “happily ever after.” Yet producer Fred Berger and Damien Chazelle emphasized that no other ending was seriously considered.
Chazelle explained his decision by saying he wanted the story to feel closer to real life, where things do not always unfold as planned. The idea was to combine the structure of a classic musical with a sense of realism, highlighting that even when people share love and memories, life can lead them down different paths.
The Alternative Ending
Originally, the director envisioned a slightly different conclusion: the film would have ended with Mia and her husband driving off toward the sunrise. In the final cut, however, La La Land closes with a piercing exchange of glances between Mia and Sebastian, filled with unspoken emotions and memories. Chazelle believed that this version heightened the emotional impact, making it more profound and unforgettable. The emotions it evoked became some of the most powerful seen in cinema in recent years.
Chazelle was inspired by Jacques Demy’s 1964 musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, which also favors bittersweet realism over a typical Hollywood climax.
Emma Stone noted that the ending of La La Land resonates with the way social media distorts people’s perception of life. In reality, not everything works out perfectly every day, even when dreams come true—they are not always flawless. This reflects the true nature of life.
