The One I Love
Tags: alternate reality, magical realism

Plot synopsis:
The opening scene shows Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Elisabeth Moss) telling their marriage therapist (Ted Danson) the story of how they met. "We met at a party and it was magic." says Ethan. One thing led to another and the next thing they knew, they were jumping into the neighbors pool. Turns out, the neighbor was home, came out screaming and it was the greatest night of their life. They tell the Therapist that they tried to recreate that moment on their anniversary, but this time, no one came out. Sophie says she felt sad. "Happiness used to be so easy, but no longer" says Sophie. She wants to trust and forgive him, but can't agree on how to get there.The Therapist sends them to a retreat, to "reset the reset button". Everyone he sends there comes back renewed.The couple arrives at the retreat and it's beautiful. There's still a lot of awkward silence between them, however. Ethan explores and can't find anyone home. At "The Coop" house, he sees a computer and recording system.He finds a "Guest House" where inside there is a book with a lot of comments from past guests on how wonderful the place was.At the main house, Ethan prepares a nice dinner; they drink some wine, smoke some pot and relax. He tells her about the guest house he found. While Ethan cleans up after dinner, Sophie goes exploring and finds the guest house. To her surprise, she finds Ethan there, waiting for her. They have a playful evening and even have sex. They say they love each other. Things between them are great.They decide to sleep there at the guest house, but first, Sophie goes back to the main house to change clothes. When she gets to the main house, she finds Ethan asleep on the couch. She questions how he got there so fast. He asks why she's so sweaty. She laughs, because it's obvious since they just had sex. "What?!" Ethan's confused. Sophie doesn't understand why he's trying to ruin the night, and goes to bed, alone.Ethan goes back to the guest house and sees the evidence of the romantic evening. He smokes some pot, and falls asleep on the couch. Sophie lies down and snuggles with him. He apologizes and says he loves her. When he wakes up in the morning, she's making breakfast. Strangely, she's making bacon, even though she hates it when he has bacon. He questions why they had such a weird argument last night. "Was it the wine, the pot?" She doesn't seem a bit fazed, saying it was a lovely night.Ethan heads back to the main house and a still pissed-off Sophie comes out of the bathroom. He grabs her and takes her to the main house, but it's empty again, with no sign of breakfast. The go outside and he explains all of the craziness that's going on.He decides, as a test, to go back in the guest house alone and finds Sophie coming out of the shower. He runs back outside and tells Sophie that he just handed her a towel, inside. She says she's not mad anymore, just scared, and goes into the guest house by herself. Inside, she sees a happy Ethan doing morning exercises. She eventually comes out and tells Ethan that he's inside exercising.They pack their bags and get the hell out of there.They stop for coffee to discuss it. They want to just forget it happened, but can't. They begin to wonder if they should actually go back and explore it. Sophie says that it was magical, it wasn't just the weed. It wasn't dangerous and she felt safe. She thinks that if they go back, it will help their relationship. He says it's a little weird that she slept with the other him.They make it back to the guest house and decide that they can go in one at a time, since it only works that way. Ethan enters and his breakfast and a happy Sophie are waiting for him. She missed him. He quizzes her and she seems to be perfectly normal.Ethan goes back outside and tells Sophie what happened. They decide to make some ground rules. Have fun, but if they become uncomfortable, they'll just pack up and go. No intimacy, no spying, be honest with each other about what happens. Make it 15 minute sessions inside.Sophie goes next. Ethan sets a timer on his phone. Inside, Sophie finds Ethan painting a portrait of her. They share some drinks and have a nice conversation.Back at the main house, Ethan sees that it's been over 15 minutes and heads over to the guest house and tries to get in. He peeks through the window and sees the other Ethan giving Sophie a back massage. Sophie sees him and leaves.At dinner in the main house, she says that the other Ethan is what, in her mind, what Ethan used to be. They go to bed but he wakes up in the middle of the night and says that he wants to have his 15 minute session at the guesthouse now. He actually just goes over and hides his phone with an audio recording app, then goes back to bed at the main house.The next morning we see Sophie at the guest house having a fun conversation with the other Ethan. She leaves and Ethan sneaks back in to retrieve the recorder, but it's not there. The other Sophie appears and gives him the phone (recorder). Outside, he takes it out to listen, but it's all garbled/static.It's Sophie's turn. The other Ethan is up in a loft and wants to have a playful game of tic tac toe. As they play, he asks why she doesn't kiss him anymore. He misses it. It looks like they will kiss and the scene ends.Cut to that evening at the main house. While in bed, Sophie gets a text from the other Ethan and laughs. The real Ethan finds it strange that the other Ethan has a phone.In the morning at the guest house, Sophie questions the other Ethan about why he cheated on her. He just said they were falling apart and he made a horrible decision. He's so happy that she stuck with him and thanks her for making all the effort to make their marriage work. They kiss.The next morning, Ethan asks Sophie if she wants to talk. He says this weekend is very confusing. He's not the sit-up guy and can't be interested in another version of her. He wants to be sure that she agrees, which she says she does.That afternoon, Ethan checks his phone and has a lot of strange messages. One of them came from a guy complaining about Ethan calling him at 2:00 am, and that the next time he can't remember where he lived, to ask Sophie. One came from his mother, worried that he just didn't sound like himself when he called yesterday. Finally, one told him where he (Ethan) lives.Ethan goes back inside the main house and tells her about the calls. He thinks the other Ethan called them. She says he wouldn't do that.Ethan says that he's leaving for the store, but actually, just parks outside and spies on the guest house. He waits, and just as the real Sophie is about to enter through the front door, he comes in the side door, pretending to be the other Ethan. She talks about how great he is at talking about her feelings, it's everything that she wanted to hear, but doesn't know what to do. She can't get it out of her head. They have sex, with Sophie still thinking it's the other Ethan.Later, back at the main house, a depressed Ethan returns. Sophie asks where the groceries are, but he tells her that the shop was closed.Later, he goes back to the guest house to see the other Sophie. He tells her she's not real and asks who she is, what she is. He's having a hard time enjoying the weekend because it appears that this is the weekend he loses his wife. She says it wasn't just this weekend, as his wife, she knows these things.Later, back at the main house, Ethan watches Sophie leave the guest house, pause, and then go back inside. Cut to the other Ethan and the real Sophie having fun inside, making out. The real Ethan shows up and the real Sophie sees him and meets him outside. He wants to know whats going on. The two argue and leave, back to the main house.Inside the main house, they find the other Sophie and Ethan, waiting for them. They have decided that it's time the four of them get to know each other. They have a nice dinner party but the real Ethan is still very uncomfortable. Everyone else seems happy, including the real Sophie. The two Sophies talk and the other Sophie questions if the real Sophie is more concerned about what she and the real Ethan did, or what the other Ethan told her (the other Sophie) about what he and the real Sophie did. For the sake of the super-fun evening they're about to have, the other Sophie says they need to quit pretending how much they like each other, and try to have fun anyway.Outside, the two Ethans talk. The real Ethan thinks the other one is trying to sabotage his relationship. The other one replies that he's doing that to himself.Back inside the main house, the two couples play cards. The other Ethan is the life of the party. The real Sophie is having fun, which pisses off the real Ethan. The other Ethan tells the real Sophie about Ethan tricking her earlier. Sophie wants the real Ethan to leave.The real Ethan leaves. He heads to "The Coop" house, finds a computer with all the files of past guests, and finds a file on him and Sophie. He finds an audio of a couple practicing to sound like them.Back at the guest house, the real Ethan tries to leave but is trapped inside. He can hear the other three having fun outside in the pool.In the morning, the other Sophie enters the guest house. She explains that the other Ethan fell in love with the real Sophie. That wasn't supposed to happen. The real Sophies supposed to fall out of love with the real Ethan. That's how the others get out, becoming them. Once that happens, it's the real ones turn to stay. That's why he couldn't get out of the house, the change is slowly happening. Only two people can leave today, she says. She still loves the other Ethan. She would rather be trapped there at the guest house than see the other Ethan with the real Sophie. Ethan asks if she has real feelings, like a real person. "I am real", she says.Back at the main house, the real Sophie and the other Ethan are getting ready for a hike. The other Sophie joins them at the house and tricks the real Sophie into a meeting with the real Ethan, while the other Sophie wears one of the real Sophies shirts and heads down to the other Ethan who thinks she's the real Sophie.The real couple discuss the weekend, with Ethan explaining that it was all a trapThe other couple have a talk (with the other Ethan mistakenly thinking he's talking to the real Sophie). The other Sophie, pretending to be the real Sophie, tells him that she doesn't want to leave with the real Ethan, she wants to leave with him. He agrees, telling her that he loves her, obviously breaking her heart. The other Ethan senses what just happened and asks where the real Sophie is. He goes running around the house, looking for her. The real couple lock themselves in a room while the real Ethan tells the real Sophie that he loves her, and even though he's not as cool as the other Ethan, he's her husband and he's not letting her go. Give him a chance.The other Ethan breaks down the door and they have a confrontation. Finally, the other Ethan asks the real Sophie to come with him, and she wont. He runs out of the house, attempting to free himself of the house for good. Just as he's about to break free, he's stopped by a force field of some kind and falls to the ground, unconscious. The real Ethan looks at the two Sophies and says we have to go. He grabs Sophie and they escape.The next morning they are OK. They escaped and feel much better with their marriage. Sophie goes down to make breakfast. Ethan asks what's for breakfast and she says bacon. He then realizes that he grabbed the wrong Sophie. He thinks about it, and says, "I'll be right there".

Review: It doesn't spoil the premise of the film, and neither will I.Mark Duplass (who also produced along with his bro, of course) and Elizabeth Moss are excellently cast as Ethan and Sophie, two not-so-newlyweds who are encountering all too typical problems "relating."At the suggestion of their therapist (Ted Danson, in a just-right cameo) they spend a weekend at a rather large rental house, unsuspecting of the lengths their counselor is willing to go to in order to motivate them to "connect." The One I Love is a high-wire act by anyone's standards.
It makes a refreshing change to all the comic book, action, romance, vampire, tween-type films out there most of which I do enjoy but it's nice to watch something a bit different every now and then.What I enjoyed the most was the simple storyline and the wonderfully subtle acting.
If you already know what's coming, it massively takes away from the enjoyment.The entire story develops really well from beginning to middle to the end although whilst it was a good and fitting ending for the film, I have to say that I personally didn't like it.
Starting out with a typical marriage counseling session, director Charlie McDowell and writer Justin Lader lull us into a movie-going comfort zone based on our experience with such Hollywood fluff as Hope Springs and Couples Retreat.
The twists and turns that await Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Elisabeth Moss), take marriage counseling to an entirely new spectrum.
It's not likely anyone can watch this without having some inner dialogue, and probably even some real discussion afterwards.Mark Duplass ("The League", Safety Not Guaranteed) and Elisabeth Moss ("Mad Men") not only carry the film, but also take on significant responsibility with wide-ranging personality traits and subtle physical changes.
It has what all great movies have - it makes you, no, it actually lets, you think about yourself, other people, and emotional situations in new and different ways.
This feels more like a filmmaking exercise than an actual film and Moss and Duplass don't feel believable as a couple - there's little content for them to work with and they can't outwit a gimmick that has nowhere to go..
Playing at 9:15 was a film entitled "The One I Love" starring Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss and Ted Danson.
I will say little about this film and what I do say may not generate any interest in the film for you, but if you like films with terrific performances and an original thought behind them, then consider checking this film out when it plays in your area.Duplass and Moss play a married couple whose relationship has grown stale.
Seeking the help of a therapist (Danson, whose on-screen time is probably less than five minutes), they agree to go on a retreat and try to rediscover and reignite the feelings they once had for each other.And that's where I have to stop.Screenwriter Justin Lader was in attendance and had a great Q&A session with SFFS Programmer Rod Armstrong and the audience but I can't even discuss THAT as it too would spoil your complete enjoyment of this film.
I've read a few reviews that state how dull the introduction and plot development is, but without giving away any spoilers, getting into the last quarter of the film the first 2/3 become so extremely vital, that the action becomes thrilling, I found myself on several occasions with an elevated pulse, and cheering for Duplass's character who seems to be trapped literally and figuratively.
The film has an overall; fun, playful, introspective vibe that will more than satisfy those that enjoy a little philosophy in their movie-watching experience.
If you enjoy a nice tidy narrator-granted set up to the plot and the a giant arrow pointing to what's going to happen at the end, like so many Hollywood tropes, this is NOT the film for you.
They are painful to watch, just like the couples you know in real life that constantly bicker and don't get along and takes everything the other person says in bad faith, and you wonder how they got together to begin with.
The romantic anecdote in the beginning of the film is not really as compelling as the script-writer thinks it is.Then when the plot of the movie and the weirdness starts happening, the way the characters respond to it seems contrived and unrealistic, especially given how the Ethan character is implied to be the type of guy who likes understanding how things work and stuff.
When they are encouraged to not- think about how it works they just buy it with little resistance.If the writers/directors wanted to not-explain what was going on, they should have structured the film differently, instead of clearly emphasizing it.
It tests the character's ability to love one a other and shows that these characters discover things about themselves and about each other that they were not aware of.This movie's overall message was pretty good and was told in a way that has not been done yet, but the mechanics of the movie and the actors altered the final score I gave it.
I enjoyed the film's nuance on which Ethan and Sophie were the real ones, and the final shot of the movie is absolutely fantastic.
'THE ONE I LOVE': Four Stars (Out of Five)Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss costar in this indie romantic comedy flick about a married couple, struggling to stay together, who go on a weekend getaway in an attempt to work things out.
After the two get high, on the first night, things get really strange (and it's not because of the weed).Without giving away too much of the movie, there are some pretty unique twists and turns; which make it very interesting to watch.
You start with the great idea, you work it as long as you can, and then you realize that you've got to end this thing some way, and you manage as best you can.That's the situation with this movie.
But at some point the filmmakers had to decide whether to end with no explanation, which would be unsatisfying, or do what they did, which is to offer a Twilight Zone-ish explanation that feels out of keeping with the film as a whole.The result isn't completely satisfying but strikes me as good enough, and I can't say that I could have thought of anything better.
It's interesting - and maybe a little TOO in-depth, just perhaps - looking at the message board for this movie on IMDb. There's all sorts of theories that are flying about this way and that, what this means, who did what to whom, is there any meaning in an 'Oragnutang', things like that.
It's a relationship comedy-drama, but it has the structure of something like a Luis Bunuel movie (Exterminating Angel) - a couple comes to a retreat to try to work out their issues and deal with past pain, in part from Ethan, thanks to the advice of a therapist - how they came to him is a bigger question never addressed, but whatever), and whenever they go into a guest house one of them meets a 'version' of the significant other who is, in their own certain way, perfect.
However you want to look at what's happening here - a science fiction experiment, a mind-control device, brain manipulation, or just a simple narrative trick that one would probably never question if it were in a novel instead of a movie - as far as the character dynamics go.
What really cements the film is that whether it's Real or Not-Real Ethan, or Real or Not-Real Sophie, Duplass and especially Elizabeth Moss make them funny, awkward, sad, angry, sensual, crazy, scared, weird and angry again all in natural measure.
So for all of the gimmicks of the story it has to work with the characters and the actors, whether one is 'real' one scene and then 'fake' the next, and who can tell outside of the glasses (hey, he's like Clark Kent, non?) The movie works best, and is riveting in a kind of harrowingly comic way, when the husband and wife are getting used to what they see as a "safe' environment to play out their other's better qualities, as if it's a 'tag-you're-it' thing, and we get to see how one views the other and one tries to be more or less comfortable.
Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss are basically they only actors in this movie, or at least for 98%, and I don't know if that was a good thing.
then everything goes into the twilight zone and I will stop talking about it since it will completely ruin this wonderful piece of cinema.For a movie to be successful you got to have a nice script, good actors and some serious directing..
money is necessary but not in good amounts to make a fine movie and all people involved in this just proved my point.The movie is not only fantastic, it's a freaking mind bending experience.We barely see more than 2 actors the whole time and yet, there is a palpable sensation of excitement, uneasy, happiness, sadness and a lot more going on and you will probably feel them as you keep watching it.The acting is top notch, the directing cannot be better than this and the script, man, the script is simply BRILLIANT.To say this movie is an incredible successful accomplishment it's an understatement.You GOT to see this movie, one word of warning, this is not the typical romantic comedy, be prepared to be amazed.This is how movies should be made and this movie alone proves once again that nice storytelling and directing is all you need.
When you throw in the precarious balance of two people in a relationship, the reality of past and present become all the more dramatic, especially when the reality looks different to each half a couple.The One I Love takes this dance to a new level and gives it a twist.
After deciding to take a little holiday together to try and recapture the fire in their relationship, Sophie and Ethan, (played by Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass), literally become two pairs as each of them faces an exact copy of their lovers, but whom oddly seem to encompass most of the good and nearly none of the "flawed" aspects of each character.
The focus moves cleverly from a typical relationship drama to something more as the plot moves toward the supernatural, but this happens without ever losing the viewer to that supernatural aspect; by the time weird stuff starts to happen we are invested in the characters and rooting for their relationship.When the couple first realize that somehow their doubles have been conjured, only appearing when the original is out of the room, they get freaked out and start to run away.
It is Sophie's insistence that this little adventure could be just what they need to get their relationship back on track that convinces them to return and explore the phenomenon a bit further.They come up with some ground rules before engaging in taking turns with their respective spouse's duplicate: They will not have sex with them, and they will be completely honest about their experiences.
Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Elisabeth Moss) are struggling as a couple after he cheated on her.
I can't imagine anybody else playing the roles of Sophie and Ethan, Elisabeth moss is my absolute favorite.I really enjoyed this movie because it left me wanting more and more and more!
The One I Love is a satisfying movie on a number of levels, but the one I like the most is that it takes the Hollywood romantic comedy and turns it into something mind-blowing.
Ethan and Sophie are a married couple on the rocks, and their therapist, who seems frankly a bit sketchy, sends them on a romantic weekend at a resort house in the mountains to "reset their reset button." Much of their tension seems to melt away in their first night together, and they seem to head to a blissful evening of companionship.
Carried by the two leads (the both excellent Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss) this is one of those few films where you don't get sick of watching always the same actors on-screen.
With an original script and filmed almost in one set (a country house), the viewer is captivated by the story and the main characters in such a way that he will wait anxiously for the outcome of the plot.
The One I Love reminds us of another great film in the same style that also did not have the proper recognition: Coherence (2013).The story involves a couple, Ethan (played by Mark Duplass, known for Safety Not Guaranteed - 2012) and Sophie (played by Elisabeth Moss, known for the character Peggy Olson in the TV series Mad Men - 2007-2015), which make therapy to try to overcome the serious marital crisis in which they live.
What begins as a romantic and fun retreat soon becomes surreal when an unexpected discovery requires both to rethink about themselves, their relationships and their future.This is the typical movie that the less you know about the plot the better will be your cinematographic experience.
The viewer is involved in the story and have the impression that is watching a actual story with real characters and conflicts.The title of the film, The One I Love, seems innocent and generic, but gains new connotations when contrasted with the story itself and the movie poster.
So there's no surprise, except I did know I would end up liking it very much.When it comes to the film theme, kind of resembles 'Coherence'.
A troubled couple, Ethan and Sophie, are seeing a therapist (Ted Danson) in order to re-establish some kind of intimacy in their relationship.
Elise Nakhnikian of Slant Magazine understands that Lader's script is getting to something much more serious underneath the lighthearted goings-on: "It's an inventive way to surface issues like how romance tends to lose its spark and people tend to get set in their ways in long-term relationships, becoming less attentive and appreciative of one another—and how the bad feelings let in by a breach of faith can harden into an impassible barrier."Unfortunately, around the mid-point, the fun dissipates as the doubles reveal themselves as a "team" and meet real Ethan and Sophie at the main house.
And who's the therapist and why is he playing God like this?" The ending is equally unsatisfying as Real Ethan runs off with one of the Sophie's merely on his gut feelings; as it turns out (SUPER SPOILERS AHEAD) he chooses the wrong one.
Back in their house, Ethan and Sophie get their marriage back on track, or is it the real Sophie?I like the surprise of the copies that the movie presents.
The One I love started off pretty interesting after the couple that are the focus of the film are sent to a country house by their psychiatrist to try to patch up their differences.I recently watched Coherence and this film went a bit Coherence-y when the couple discover an alternate version of themselves living in the guest house of the country home.Although the 'rules' are never explained, it seems (in the beginning at least anyway) that only one of the couple can go in at a time and whichever one goes in sees the alternate version of their spouse.
I recently saw "The One I Love" at the Provincetown Film Festival and after watching I was left a bit perplexed on exactly how to describe the movie without totally ruining the plot.
Moreover, both films do a great job of engaging the audience and carrying the plot along, while still leaving everyone in debate over what exactly happened throughout the story (and especially at the end)."The One I Love" is a worthwhile watch for any movie buff.
I think Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass are good actors, but one of two things happened in this movie.
However, it has its own unique voice and rather than feeling like a cheap imitation of the work done by these great directors, debutante feature director Charlie McDowell has created a movie that at the very least matches if not surpasses, movies such as Her and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.At the start of the movie we are introduced to the struggling young married couple Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Elisabeth Moss).
In the hands of lesser actors the original characters and the clones would have seemed like two of exactly the same character but it's clear throughout the movie that Duplass and Moss are playing two similar but uniquely different characters each.The themes tackled by the movie are timeless and have either never been tackled before or certainly not tackled in this way.
If you are angry at women who want you to take responsibility for your part of making a relationship work, you will love this film.
At the beginning we see Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Kate Moss) in a session with their marriage therapist (Ted Danson).
But the story holds true to its title: both Ethan and Sophie get the one they love.Although the movie's title suggests a nice snug romance, it is in reality a strange form of science fiction.
(Watch until the end and you will know why!)Some of the biggest challenges in relationships come from the fact that most people enter a relationship in order to get something: they're trying to find someone who's going to make them feel good.
The film opens with Ethan and Sophie (Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss) struggling through couples therapy with their marriage counselor (Ted Danson).
As Sophie and real-world Ethan grow apart, jealousies lead to betrayals and just as the audience starts wondering where this story is going, the film makes a delightfully unexpected pivot into its third act, which I won't reveal here.
The exploration of love and marriage in this film makes us think about these issues by introducing an inventive concept which may work for some, but turn others off.