Intermediate Listening Practice

Sophie: Have you seen that new movie yet? The one about the musician?

Derek: No. I keep hearing about it, though. Is it actually good or is everyone just saying that?

Sophie: It's really good. I saw it on Saturday and I haven't stopped thinking about it.

Derek: What's it about? Without ruining the ending.

Sophie: Okay. So there's this woman, she's a piano teacher, and she's kind of given up on her own music career. She had a chance when she was younger but it didn't work out, and now she just teaches kids.

Derek: That sounds depressing.

Sophie: It's not, though. That's what I liked about it. It could have been really sad, but it's actually funny in a lot of places. She's got this one student who's terrible at piano but really enthusiastic, and their scenes together are great. And then something happens, I can't tell you what, but it changes everything, and she has to decide whether to try again or not.

Derek: So it's one of those "follow your dreams" movies.

Sophie: No. That's the thing. It's smarter than that. It doesn't pretend that everything works out perfectly. There's a scene near the end that I almost told you about just now but I stopped myself, and it's not what you'd expect at all.

Derek: You nearly ruined it.

Sophie: I know. I'm terrible at this. I always want to tell people the best part.

Derek: Who's in it? Anyone I'd know?

Sophie: The main actress, I've seen her in a couple of things before. She was in that TV show about the hospital. You know the one.

Derek: Maybe. I'm not sure.

Sophie: She's really good in this. Like, there's this one moment where she doesn't say anything, she just sits at the piano and you can see everything on her face. I got emotional and I don't usually cry at movies.

Derek: You cried at that dog movie last year.

Sophie: That was different. Everyone cried at that.

Derek: I didn't.

Sophie: You left the room. That's worse.

Derek: I went to get a drink.

Sophie: For twenty minutes.

Derek: Anyway. What about the music? Is there a lot of piano in it?

Sophie: Yeah, quite a lot. And it's not background music, it's part of the story. She plays at different points and you can hear how her playing changes depending on what's happening in her life. It's subtle but it works.

Derek: I'm not usually into movies about music. I find them a bit slow.

Sophie: I thought you'd say that. But this one moves. It's only about an hour and forty minutes and it doesn't drag. Honestly, I think you should give it a chance. If you hate it, I'll buy you dinner.

Derek: That's a strong offer.

Sophie: I'm that confident.

Derek: Fine. When do you want to go?

Sophie: It's still showing at the one on King Street. We could go Friday if you're free.

Derek: Friday works.

Sophie: Seven thirty showing? We could get something to eat after and I can tell you all the things I've been holding back.

Derek: Or you'll owe me dinner because I hated it.

Sophie: You won't hate it.

Derek: We'll see.