We all have little symphonies in our heads that reflect our changing moods, playing different tunes depending on whether we are happy or sad. The Orchestra takes this idea literally and invents a world in which every character has an ensemble of musicians who follow them everywhere they go and perform compositions to match their personalities. But poor Vernon, an elderly and lonely man, is saddled with an orchestra that’s totally out of tune, much like his life. You see, Vernon is a man who has never been able to fit into society because of his debilitating shyness. The question raised all throughout this film is how can we find the right note deep inside ourselves? Whenever Vernon meets his new neighbour, with whom he has fallen in love, he is assailed by a cacophony from his internal orchestra, whose playing is so discordant it makes him even more anxious… and even frightened. But does the orchestra control Vernon’s life? Couldn’t he assert himself and become his own conductor, and thereby set the tone of his existence?
While music is at the heart of this film, its purpose is to urge us to think about personal assertiveness: for our orchestras can of course exert an influence on our daily lives and the way we view the world, but it is also true that we can take the conductor’s baton and put things in synch. Musical harmony goes hand in hand with existential harmony. And we have to keep calm to maintain the right air. At the end of the day, Vernon learns to become the maestro in his own orchestra, and thus the main player in his own life. This is a beautiful lesson about music and about life.
