Despite the director's claim here that the filmmakers didn't want to "take a side" (and, yes, that is a pretty odd to say in this context), the movie clearly frames its mandate in a negative light. Nearly every other character speaks negatively about the mandate at some point or another, and there are anti-mandate signs in the background and even an anti-mandate protest concert being advertised throughout. But for Gluck, his characters are more important than the world they inhabit, and the details of their situation are meant to eventually fade into the background. You'll be able to hear my full interview with the director on the August 12, 2026 episode of our /Film Weekly podcast. "One Night Only" is in theaters now.