“Música” is a story about Rudy, who has a neurological condition called synaesthesia. He finds it difficult to focus on things because of this, and this causes him to have difficulties with his girlfriend, Haley. They have been dating for over four years, but Haley is running out of patience with him as she expects a different future for them. Rudy tries to make everyone happy, including himself, but fails. He meets Isabella, who believes in Rudy and his talents, even though she does not completely understand it. Rudy navigates through his life, stuck between Haley, Isabella, his mother Maria, and himself.
This article contains spoilers.
Música (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
The film opens with Rudy listening to the sounds in the restaurant when he is brought back to the present by Haley. Rudy’s mother calls, and it is evident she does not like Haley. Haley feels the same about Rudy’s relationship with his mother. Haley is insecure about Rudy’s mother and feels she is competing with her for Rudy’s love. Rudy, however, tells her there is no competition and he is present with her in that moment. Haley and Rudy are in the same class and she is worried about him as he hasn’t even started working on his thesis.
Rudy does puppet shows in the subway at night, but since he wants to move out into the city after graduating, Haley pushes him to get a stable job to earn the money to pay rent. He is against getting help from either of their parents. He tunes out as the sounds in the restaurant turn into a party in his mind. Haley has had enough and breaks up with him. Rudy goes to the subway with his puppet, Diego. Like him, there is a singer on the subway every day. Diego tells him they will be okay after Rudy sees they haven’t made a lot of money.
Rudy’s mother wakes him up the next morning and asks if he is playing with dolls again. She doesn’t understand the difference between puppets and playing with dolls. Rudy’s mother does not want him to date Americans (gringos), but she gets mad at Haley for breaking up with her precious son. Rudy’s mother is on a mission to find someone for him even though he is not ready. Rudy hears music in everyday life, even on the subway. He has a friend named Anwar who has a food truck.
Later, Rudy expresses his concerns about his mother, and Anwar says if it was his mother, she would have 20 girls lined up at home waiting for him. Rudy gets home to find his mother introducing him to Claudia, another Brazilian. Rudy finds the whole set-up weird but Claudia feels it to be normal. She is throwing himself at him all through the conversation but Rudy backs off. Rudy goes to a fish shop to buy some fish and hates to see so many people waiting. However, he gets hit by a fish as he is zoned out because of the music. But more importantly, he spots a beautiful woman.
On the package, there are a smiley and words that say feel better, and it is written by the beautiful girl Isabella. At breakfast, Rudy’s mother, Maria, is worried because Rudy is excited about school and is on time for breakfast, which is abnormal. He visits the fish shop again, and the staff make fun of him, calling him the fish face. He wants to pay for the fish, but Isabella makes a joke that they have a policy not to charge anyone whom they have almost killed. They introduce themselves to each other. Isabella has to go to the Ironbound fair (market), and Rudy lies he needs to get there as well.
They visit the market together. Rudy thinks the neighborhood is rampant with crime, but Isabella loves the place and does not want to leave. She does not judge him about his interest in the puppets and encourages him to take the puppets above the subway and make something out of them. Rudy is happy the entire day. Diego helps him understand his feelings towards Isabella. Anwar tells Rudy that he can’t be this happy unless he is high because he got dumped and still lives with his mother.
The next day, Isabella shares with Rudy that her mother moved back to Brazil when she was 15 because of a man. Isabella realizes Rudy keeps zoning out and asks him about it. He explains from when he was a child, he heard everyday sounds, and a rhythm formed in his mind. He tries to help her hear what he is hearing, but despite trying hard, she can’t hear it. Isabella encourages him and tells him that even though she can’t hear it, she can feel him feeling it, and it is incredible.
In class, Haley reaches out to Rudy and apologizes for pressuring him. Rudy admits to being difficult, but Haley says that they should spend time together before graduation and see how things go. Subsequently, she kisses him. Rudy tells Anwar the situation he is in, and Anwar asks him to date both women. Furthermore, Rudy talks to Diego and defends himself that he isn’t dating Isabella or Haley. They decide not to spend time or talk to any of them, but Maria wants to fish.
Rudy meets Isabella in the store and gets a message from Haley asking to study together. He, however, borrows Anwar’s food truck to take Isabella out of Ironbound. Rudy is not able to start the truck. Subsequently, Isabella takes over, saying he will get them both killed if he lets him drive. They have different points of view about the neighborhood. Isabella tells him he worries too much, and he responds by saying she does not worry enough. At that very moment, he gets shot from outside and is rushed to the emergency room.
Rudy starts hearing the sounds in the hospital and is about to zone out. Isabella covers his ears and asks him if it feels better, and he does. They express how they feel for each other and kiss. Haley sends a text asking to meet at the country club to study, but he wonders how to respond. By then, she sends more pleading requests, and he agrees. Rudy is juggling between school, Haley, Isabella, the puppet show, and helping his mother at the salon.
He meets Haley’s parents for brunch, and she talks about the plan for the future and the job leads Rudy has. They question him about what he is doing now and are taken aback when he talks about puppets. They find out about his roots and more. Haley calls him later and apologizes, and Rudy is mad about her making decisions for both of them. They agree to meet later that day.
Haley reserves a table at a Brazilian restaurant, and she apologizes to her parents. Rudy is trying his best to break up with her, but he is unable to. He gets up to visit the washroom, and Isabella is at the restaurant, calling him. He moves between Isabella and Haley’s table, unable to tell either of them what is happening. To make things worse, his mother shows up, and Isabella and Haley come face to face. Rudy has no choice now but to tell the truth and ends it with Haley. Isabella is disappointed and leaves.
Música (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
How did Isabella help Rudy find himself?
Rudy spends the night with Anwar but wakes up the next morning in his bed. Maria tells him that Anwar brought him home. She asks him what makes him happy, and one of the things he says is Isabella. Maria asks him to try to talk to her even if Isabella does not want to. Rudy visits the store and expresses how he feels. But Isabella is upset and tells him it’s over.
Rudy succumbs to the routine of eating, sleeping, subway puppet show, and repeat. One day, he gets an idea for his thesis and starts working on it. Rudy makes more puppets like Diego and starts performing for bigger crowds. He has made a big name for himself, having sold out shows as a puppeteer. Now, he talks to his mother, gets his takeout, and sees a smiley on it. He hangs up and opens the box to find a message that reads “you took it higher”. Rudy smiles.
The message at the end is from Isabella, meaning despite not dating him or being in touch, she was keeping an eye on him and rooting for him all along. This was Isabella’s way of congratulating Rudy. Rudy has a neurological condition called synaesthesia, which in this film’s context means Rudy can hear everyday sounds, which causes him to have visions. Hence his interest in music and the creative space. Even though he lost both the girls, Rudy found himself and his talents in the end.
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