Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley meet on the same day—15 July, St. Swithun's Day—over 20 years. Dexter is from a southern, wealthy, upper-class family, privately educated at Winchester College whilst Emma is from a lower middle-class family from the north of England. On 15 July 1988, after their graduation from the University of Edinburgh, they spend a platonic night together and agree to "just be friends."
One year later, Dexter helps Emma move to London to become a writer before jetting off to India. Finding little success by 1990, she works as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant, where she meets Ian, an aspiring comedian and science-fiction buff. Dexter travels the world, eventually teaching English as a Foreign Language in Paris but remains in touch. He visits her on 15 July 1991 and suggests they take a holiday. In 1992, they travel to Dinard in France. Despite their mutual attraction, Emma turns down Dexter's advances as he lacks commitment.
By 1993, Dexter is a successful television presenter with a raucous late-night show. Dexter visits his parents on 15 July 1994 after his mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. He arrives still inebriated from a night of heavy partying, infuriating his father. His mother is unimpressed with his wild lifestyle, and she tells him he is not yet a nice person. That night, Emma goes on a date with Ian; despite their lack of chemistry, they begin a relationship.
By 1995, Emma has retrained, is a schoolteacher and lives with Ian, but she is increasingly irritated by his laziness. Dexter's new show makes him "the most annoying man on telly". Meeting Emma for dinner on 15 July 1996, Dexter gets high on cocaine, flirts with another woman, and insults Emma quoting George Bernard Shaw, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.” She storms off and, deciding that they have outgrown each other, tells him that although she loves him, she no longer likes him.
Two years later, now approaching his mid-30s, Dexter loses his television career, unable to capture younger audiences, and by 1999, is in a serious relationship with Sylvie. Meanwhile, Emma has split up with Ian; he confronts her over their breakup and his jealousy of Dexter after reading her diary whilst she tells him she pays the mortgage and despises Star Trek II : The Wrath of Khan, which Ian seems to be obsessed with.
Before leaving, Ian nonetheless praises the stories in her diary and urges her to have them published. On 15 July 2000, Emma and Dexter attend the wedding of mutual friends. Dexter receives a job offer from Callum, his old roommate who has become very wealthy. Emma tells Dexter she has received a book deal, and he reveals that he and Sylvie are to be married, as he will soon be a father. Dexter and Emma rekindle their friendship.
By 2001, Dexter is a devoted father to his daughter Jasmine. He is unaware Sylvie is having an affair with Callum. Emma's book is published. Two years pass, and Dexter is divorced. He travels to Paris on the Eurostar and visits Emma who has become a successful author and resides in the French capital. Hopeful after a previous drunken tryst with Emma following his divorce, Dexter learns she has a new French boyfriend Jean-Pierre, a jazz player, and he departs. Emma has second thoughts and chases after Dexter. They share a passionate kiss on the banks of Canal Saint-Martin and finally begin a relationship together.
Emma and Dexter are engaged by 2004 and eventually marry. Dexter opens a café in England, sharing custody of Jasmine, and he and Emma try, unsuccessfully, to have a child. On 15 July 2006, Emma is hit by a truck whilst riding her bicycle, and dies. Inconsolable, Dexter returns to his self-destructive habits. Over the years, he is comforted by Sylvie, Jasmine, his widowed father, and even Ian, now working in Insurance and happily married with children, who visits Dexter and tells him that Emma "lit up" around him, assuring him that "she made you decent... and you made her so happy".
On 15 July 2011, Dexter visits Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh with Jasmine. The film flashes back to 1988: after their night together, Dexter declines Emma's invitation to spend the day with her, but changes his mind. They climb Arthur's Seat and at the top, he suggests that instead of being casual friends, they "finish what they started" the previous night. Racing back to the flat, they encounter Dexter's parents on the street. Emma leaves, and Dexter tells his parents she is just a friend, but chases after her to ask for her number. They kiss passionately, and promise to see each other again.
Actress Anne Hathaway said she was clandestinely given the script as the film was set in the United Kingdom and director Scherfig was not looking for any American actresses for the part. Hathaway flew to London for a meeting with Scherfig to explain why she should get the part. Hathaway later said it was "the worst meeting of my life... I was just inarticulate", but on leaving Hathaway wrote out a list of songs for Scherfig to listen to, saying, "I clearly didn't communicate to you what I needed to today. But I think these songs can do it for me." Scherfig did listen to them, which led to Hathaway getting the part.[5]
Principal photography commenced in July 2010. Filming took place on location in Scotland, England and France.[1] The production filmed in Edinburgh, the city where Dexter and Emma first meet, in August 2010.[6] Various landmark locations, including Arthur's Seat, were used.[7] Production then moved to London. Parliament Hill Lido in north London was used for scenes in which Emma, of varying ages, swims.[8] Filming took place inside a house in Granville Road in Stroud Green for scenes involving Jim Sturgess and Romola Garai.[9] Scenes in the shop and cafe were filmed at Leila's shop and cafe on Arnold Circus, close to Brick Lane in the East End.[10] UK railway station filming took place at Ridgmont Station on the Bedford to Bletchley Marston Vale Line.[11] Filming in France took place in Dinan and Dinard, near Saint-Malo, in Brittany. A seaside club was turned into the Café Paradis, designed to ape Greek themes.
Critical reception
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a 36% approval rating based on 145 reviews, with an average rating of 5.1/10. The site's consensus states: "Despite some fresh narrative twists, One Day lacks the emotion, depth, or insight of its bestselling source material".[12] On Metacritic, it has a score of 48% based on reviews from 41 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[13]CinemaScore polls reported that the average grade moviegoers gave the film was a "B−" on an A+ to F scale.[14]
Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times called it a "heartbreaking disappointment of a film"[15] while Peter Howell of the Toronto Star said "Long before the credits roll, you may find yourself wishing your life could flash before your eyes, to end the monotony of this relentless turning of calendar pages."[16] In contrast, Roger Ebert gave the film three stars out of four, saying, "One Day has style, freshness, and witty bantering dialogue."[17] Anne Hathaway's Yorkshire accent in the role of Emma was regarded as subpar by the newspaper columnist Suzanne Moore. Reviewing the film on BBC Radio 4's Front Row, she said the accents were "all over the shop". Moore went on to say, "Sometimes she's from Scotland, sometimes she's from New York, you just can't tell".[18]
In November 2021, it was announced that Netflix would be adapting the novel on which the film was based into a television series. The writing team for the series is headed by Nicole Taylor, working with Anna Jordan, Vinay Patel and Bijan Sheibani and will be produced by Drama Republic, Universal International Studios and Focus Features.[19][20]Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall are to star in the lead roles.[21]
