Once a promising rising star, now a certifiably exceptional leading man,Josh O’Connorhas been charming audiences withcompassionate, poignant, and magnetic performancesfor over a decade. In that time, he has crafted iconic characters that will be forever tied to his career. But before he garnered critical praise and an Emmy win for his portrayal of Prince Charles inThe Crown, or gave us one of the most memorable performances of 2024 as Patrick Zweig inChallengers, O’Connor honed his skills by starring inOnly You, a sensitive and heartfelt romance film released in the UK in 2019.
O’Connor stars opposite Spanish actressLaia CostainOnly You, which tells the story of a couple whomeet on a fateful New Year’s Eve night and quickly fall in love,before facing the hardships that can accompany building a relationship and trying to start a family. Despite boasting a 96% critic score and 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes—as well as earning directorHarry WootliffaBAFTAnomination—the film has been somewhat lost to time. When visiting it today in the wake of the work O’Connor turned in after it, though, it’s clear thatOnly Youplayed apivotal role in the construction of his onscreen persona.
‘Only You’ Takes an Unabashed Look Into the Realities of Complicated Romance
Wootliffwastes no time establishing the central relationshipinOnly You. Jake (O’Connor) and Elena (Costa) meet incredibly early on in the film anddecide to move in together within weeks of knowing each other.Soon after that, Jake, who isnine years younger than 35-year-old Elenawhen the two meet, proposes the idea of trying to have a baby together. With this, the main tension in the story begins, as the film shifts to examining how thecouple’s trouble conceiving places strain on their relationship.
Only You’s greatest achievement is itstrue-to-life portrayal of infertility. As the film delves deeper into the couple’s failure to conceive—which includes Elena opting to undergoIVF treatment—it presents things in a very authentic fashion, never pulling its punches. Wootliff’s raw, honest, and unafraid approach gives the viewer a clear look at the heartbreaking reality of the situation. At the same time, though,her characters never get lost in the trauma. They remain three-dimensional figures, ones who are not solely defined by the adversity they are facing. Aided by tremendous performances fromO’Connorand Costa, Wootliff also uses her film’s flipped gender and age stereotypesto explore her character’s emotions and desiresin unexpected ways. She allows herself enough room to accurately and respectfully examine the film’s chief point of conflictwithout confining her story to a single issue.
‘Only You’ Explores the Sacrifices that Can Accompany True Love
Through its depiction ofJake and Elena’s failed efforts to get pregnant,Only Youis a story about how sometimes finding the person you’re meant to be with meanssacrificing a visionyou had for your own future. Wootliff understands thatour personal definitions of happiness are ever-evolving, capable of changing due to the unpredictable nature of life. At the beginning of the film, Jake places no greater emphasis on anything other than his desire to start a family. But by the end, he is forced to question if holding on to that desireis worth potentially losing a soulmate.
Think Josh O’Connor Is Sexy in ‘Challengers’? You Need to Watch His Intimate Queer Romance
Before he was a sexy tennis player or the Prince of Wales, he was a farmer learning how to love.
Left with an idyllic memory of his parents' relationship after his mother passed away when he was young,Jake is a romantic with a strong belief in the existence of true love.On the other hand,the divorce of Elena’s parentshas caused her to be a bit more cynical when it comes to commitment. Initially, this results in Elena being a bit more hesitant about the prospect of starting a family with Jake so soon after first meeting him. As the undeniable bond between them grows, though,they both make the pursuit of a baby the central focus of their life.The ups and downs that come with this pursuit,as well as the way Wootliff ultimately decides to end her film, reveal howthe thing we think we want is sometimes in conflict with what we actually want.
‘Only You’ Works as a Blueprint for the Career O’Connor Went on to Have
It may not get the credit it deserves because it was overshadowed by the film that introduced O’Connor to many film fans—2017’sGod’s Own Country—butOnly Youreally doesserve as a showcase for what have proven to be O’Connor’s trademark abilities. In his performance as Jake, he createsmemorable scenes of on-screen romance, cultivatestremendous chemistry with his costar, and levels the viewer with emotion—sometimes using just a single word or facial expression.These qualities would continue to show up in his work in the years followingOnly You.
O’Connor’s range, gentleness, sense of humor, and openness as a performerare all on display inOnly You.In his character’s fantastical and uncomplicatedvision of true loveand family, the innocence that he would go on to bring to other roles, and then subvert in projects likeChallengers, can be seen in Wootliff’s film as well. He is the type of actor who announced his true self to audiences right away, which makesrevisiting his early work to be a revealing and fascinating experienceall these years later. For fans of his who might have missed it, as well as movie lovers who appreciate a good romance that is unafraid to tackle taboo themes,Only Youisdefinitely worth seeking out.
Only Youis available to stream on Crackle in the U.S.
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