BEATLES MAGAZINE: ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO EXPLORES THE LEAST CELEBRATED ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE

Sunday, 13 April 2025

ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO EXPLORES THE LEAST CELEBRATED ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE

The new documentary gives deep insight into a crucial aspect of John Lennon and his spouse Yoko Ono’s lives. Here’s how the musician navigated his life after the world-famous band was dissolved.
John Lennon’s Documentary Features Restored Footage of Concerts, Private Phone Calls.

One To One: John and Yoko, A new documentary explores the life of John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono. Co-directed by Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald and Sam Rice-Edwards, the documentary explores the least celebrated aspect of their life—their initial years as New Yorkers.

The post-Beatles era was a turning point in their lives. Their Greenwich Village home became a central attraction for avant-garde artists, leftist activists, and self-proclaimed freaks. As a result, the couple was immersed in the radical political and cultural energy of early 70s America.

The film aggressively details the lives of Lennon and Ono during this phase. During this time, the musician held several shows, and their restored footage is included in the film. The first footage is from a pair of benefit shows for the Willowbrook State School that was held at Madison Square Garden in 1972.

In the restored footage, John is seen performing high-energy versions of Come Together, Instant Karma and other hits.

The documentary also features private phone calls recorded by Lennon and Ono, which featured candid conversations with friends and associates.

In addition to the tapes and concert footage, the documentary has also woven in some clips of Lennon and Ono’s rare television appearances. They graced a few chat shows like The Dick Cavett Show and The Mike Douglas Show.

“OK, so flower power didn’t work. So what? We’ll start again,” John says at one point. The director, Macdonald, admitted that the line goes straight to the heart.

“This guy is wearing his heart on his sleeve. He is so passionate. It’s really endearing,” he added.

The film provides clips of John and Yoko on talk shows discussing their marriage or his former Beatles bandmates.

The couple’s day-to-day concerns draw us in, John’s fear of being deported as monumental as Ono’s custody battle for her daughter Kyoko from a previous marriage.

One to One is full of quotable words of wisdom from John, like, “It’s easier to shout revolution and 'power to the people' than look at yourself,” as he told one interviewer.

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