Colin Farrell’s new film A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, released recently, includes a heartfelt storyline centered on David (Farrell) and Sarah (Margot Robbie) as they reconnect during a transformative road trip. However, fans will miss a powerful scene featuring Farrell performing a contemporary interpretive dance designed to narrate their emotional journey, which the director Kogonada ultimately removed to keep the film’s pace. This notable Colin Farrell cut scene reveals deeper layers of the film that audiences did not get to witness in theaters.
Behind the Interpretive Dance’s Emotional Impact
Margot Robbie shared in an interview with Entertainment Weekly how this dance segment was expected to be part of the extended director’s cut. Farrell explained that Kogonada envisioned the piece as a visual representation of the characters’ experiences, blending structure and freedom in the choreography. Farrell described the shoot as one of the most beautiful moments in his twenty-five-year career, noting the joyous and open atmosphere during filming, despite the scene’s eventual omission from the theatrical release.
Robbie reflected on their anticipation for the dance, admitting she had mentally built it up as the film’s defining moment. She said,
“This is the moment where everything makes sense for the character, and this is such an integral moment,”
adding,
“I believed it was going to be the defining thing. And then, I don’t know, it wasn’t that big of a moment.”
Contrasting Scenes: Simple Dance Gains Greater Meaning
Interestingly, another dance scene that made it into the movie was initially intended to be a minor, almost throwaway moment. Robbie noted the script’s minimal stage direction, saying,
“It was meant to be a nothing kind of moment — in the script, it was like, ‘And they dance,’ that’s all it said.”
Despite this, the filming of that scene became unexpectedly powerful. Farrell recalled the director playing a haunting piece of music to heighten the atmosphere, which moved many crew members to tears. He said,
“Some of the lads were really emotional,”
describing how the story’s personal nature enhanced the scene’s impact.
Robbie also remarked,
“You know you’ve done something good when the grips are crying,”
emphasizing the moment’s beauty and saying it transcended her expectations, even though it was eventually cut from the final version. Farrell quipped,
“Yeah, you won’t see that on Sept. 19,”
eliciting laughter from Robbie.
Additional Musical Numbers Edited or Removed
The film also originally included more extensive musical theater sequences inspired by high school performances. Farrell’s character revisits a past role from the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, performing the opening number on screen. Yet director Kogonada revealed that several full songs were recorded but removed to avoid derailing the narrative. He said,
“There are full numbers that we shot that you never see, which is a heartbreak for me,”
admitting he wished the film could have been longer to include them all.
Two specific songs cut from the final edit were
“Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm”
and “Coffee Break.” Kogonada praised the choreography on “Coffee Break” as his favorite, performed to unique choreography by Galen Hooks, but noted it contributed to an overemphasis on the high school musical element.
The Cast and Crew’s Genuine Connection During Production
Farrell, Robbie, and Kogonada described their shared enthusiasm for blending theater and film, calling themselves “secret dorks” about musical theater. The production dedicated significant resources to authentically recreating the high school auditorium setting, opting for a live audience rather than duplicating extras digitally. In Kogonada’s words,
“We dedicated a week to it. We filled that auditorium up — nowadays, with a crowd scene, they duplicate people, but we used a lot of our budget just to fill it up and have actual people watch it, and that was great.”
This commitment fostered a genuine bond among the cast of high schoolers and actors involved in those scenes, creating an atmosphere that went beyond typical filmmaking. Kogonada expressed hope to eventually release the full footage so audiences can experience the performances that didn’t make the theatrical cut.
Significance of the Cut Scenes and Future Possibilities
The exclusion of these emotionally charged and musically rich scenes illustrates the challenges of balancing a film’s narrative flow with the desire to showcase artistic moments. While fans may feel a sense of loss over missing these glimpses of character depth and creativity, the tension between pacing and storytelling is a common filmmaking dilemma. Farrell’s reflections on the cut interpretive dance and Kogonada’s regret over trimming musical numbers highlight the complexity behind editing decisions.
Looking ahead, there is potential for future releases—such as director’s cuts or special editions—that might restore these scenes, giving viewers a more expansive understanding of the characters’ journeys and the film’s artistic ambition. For now, audiences can appreciate the film’s final form while anticipating what additional insights may emerge in the future.
