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Yesterday -Extraordinary vs the Ordinary

In the film, Yesterday, Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) struggles ten long years as a singer-songwriter. He has an above-average voice but composes and plays music that is unexceptional and which few appreciate. He has the undying belief of his manager, loyal best friend, and secret romantic admirer, Ellie (Lily James). Her commitment is just about the only thing keeping his music career alive.

The Extraordinary

Then Jack gets hit by a bus at the precise moment a mysterious global blackout occurs. When he returns to consciousness, the world is missing certain key elements, most notably any trace of the Beatles’ musical legacy. It is a world in which the Fab Four never existed. Only Jack remembers their songs.

He starts performing the Beatles hits as his own and rockets to stardom. Ed Sheeran “discovers” him, and a power-mad manager Debra Hammer (Kate McKinnon) takes over directing his career. Faithful Ellie is pretty much left behind. Is it success if Jack knows in his heart that all the adulation doesn’t belong to him or his talent. His moment in the spotlight doesn’t make Jack feel happy or feel authentically gifted.

The Ordinary

Jack is a Power of Idealism character. These characters long to burn brightly, even if only briefly. They also oppose simple acceptance of one’s common or “ordinary” lot in life as defined by society, culture, or tradition. Jack quits his job as a primary school teacher because he longs to be a rock star.

Jack needs to learn to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. He must learn to see the magic and passion in the small details of life like family, friends, and the magical but mundane moments of living and loving. He must learn to be content with what is possible and not become disillusioned or bitter with what is out of reach and will never be achievable. Jack needs to see his best audience is the children who don’t care who wrote the song they happily sing along.

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