A good nonfiction biography must understand that no matter how famous the subject is, they are a product of not just their nature, but their environmental nurture.
In a festival packed to the brim with documentaries, it can sometimes be a difficult task to stand out. Because they often lack A-list actors or popular directors, these films must often rely on their subject matter to hook the audience. “One to One: John & Yoko” was already off to a head start in this way, as the singer John Lennon continues to be a worldwide phenomenon in the decades after his death. I saw more “Beatles” T-shirts in my theater’s audience than I have ever seen in my life, and I strongly suspect that many of those people may not have even been film festival attendees, just fans who saw that the film was in a nearby theater.
Still, just because the subject matter is one of the biggest stars in musical history, that does not guarantee that the film will be engaging or memorable. However, “One to One: John & Yoko” has two tricks up its sleeve to stand out as a phenomenal documentary. The first and most enticing one to fans is the great focus on the frequently-overshadowed Yoko Ono. One of the most publicly berated female celebrities in the 20th century, Yoko Ono’s distress regarding her lost child and backlash for allegedly “breaking up the Beatles” is finally brought to light in this documentary. Her fascinating story is not frequently told, so “One to One: John & Yoko” earns itself a leg up on other “Beatles” documentaries in that way.
The second and by far the strongest trick to the film’s success is displayed during the opening scene: a montage of not just John and Yoko, but of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s as a whole. Colorful clothes, sideburns, Nixon, it’s all here. The film goes on to explore how Yoko and John interacted with the important issues of that time period, even exploring the world as a whole at moments. Racial equality, the Vietnam War, substance use, and so on. The movie bounces between society and the titular couple, providing a macro and micro perspective of the era to great effect. In the interview scenes that link these alternating viewpoints, John’s charisma and Yoko’s passion are put on full display.
Personally I have never sought understanding of the historical impact of John and Yoko, but this documentary still sucked me in all the same. It serves as a reminder that they were also just young people who sought to change the world. The film is so successful at connecting with everyone that the audience at my showing seemed to form a sort of bond that is atypical even for a film festival. We laughed, smiled and even teared up for what I can only assume are entirely different reasons.
“One to One: John & Yoko” stands out for its fixation on a period of American culture, not just its display of a worldwide celebrity.
Down two theaters and about 30 movies, viewers may assume that the 2025 Milwaukee Film Festival would be weaker this year, and they would be wrong. This year I saw seven films, each ripe for discussion regarding a different element of filmmaking. To analyze each film’s strength I will offer seven separate analyses.
(Image courtesy of Milwaukee Film.)
The West Bend Current 
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