La La Land - Script Study

Film: La La Land

Screenplay by: Damien Chazelle

On Sebastian and Mia's first date, he shares his love for Jazz with her. She tells him that Jazz was only played at cocktail parties whenever they served the salami and cheese. She says “It’s good to talk over” which Sebastian replies “That's the problem”. 

Then later at their big dinner argument, the climax of the scene happens and we realize the Jazz music has stopped playing and that they were arguing over it the entire time. The melancholic yet bittersweet ending of this film is justified in this scene as the pursuit of their opposing desires obstructs one another's and therefore foreshadows the demise of their relationship.

Their individual goals even caused Sebastian to talk over the one thing he holds sacred in this world - his Jazz - and as he said himself, that's a problem.