Empty Orchestra

Empty Orchestra

Year: 2017

Runtime: 30 mins

Language: English

Director: Guillem Morales

ComedyDrama

During an 1980s-themed karaoke party thrown for their boss, a group of office employees reveals their hidden feelings through song choices. As tensions rise and rumors of impending layoffs circulate, long-simmering rivalries and personal conflicts erupt, creating an unexpectedly dramatic and revealing night.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Empty Orchestra (2017)

Trace every key event in Empty Orchestra (2017) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Greg arrives in a sumo fatsuit and sings in the karaoke booth

Greg, dressed in a sumo-themed fatsuit, enters the karaoke booth and belts out Don't You Want Me. Connie arrives dressed as Amy Winehouse and the two share a kiss before Fran bursts in dressed as Britney Spears. Roger arrives with his assistant Janet; Janet, who is deaf, is dressed as Boy George, while Roger improvises a clown nose. The group are celebrating Roger's promotion and the envelope with a list of names sits on the table.

Evening, start Karaoke booth
2

Pills roulette begins as the group takes a mix of pills

To celebrate, the group plays pills roulette with ecstasy, Viagra, ketamine, Paracetamol, a laxative and Tic Tac. Greg becomes alarmed when he notices the envelope and starts wondering who might be laid off. Roger remains distracted and soon leaves for more drinks, the tension rising around the list of names.

Evening, early Karaoke booth
3

Duane arrives and kicks off Wham Rap! while Janet listens with her hand on the speaker

Duane arrives dressed as Michael Jackson and launches Wham Rap!, heightening the chaos. Janet, who is deaf, pads her hand on the speaker to 'listen' as the others react. Greg quizzes Janet on lay-offs, probing her understanding of the situation.

Evening, early Karaoke booth
4

Connie uses Duane's phone to text Janet

Connie takes Duane's phone to text Janet and asks her to sing a song if she likes him. Janet remains a calm observer as the drama escalates. Roger returns with shots and drinks them alone, while the others watch and wait.

Mid-evening Karaoke booth
5

Connie and Greg are told to choose between her and Fran

Janet watches the exchange as Connie tells Greg that he must choose between her and Fran. The tension between the love triangle fuels distrust and scheming among the group. Roger's promotion gets overshadowed by the looming potential layoffs.

Mid-evening Karaoke booth
6

Roger performs Since You Been Gone and Greg plots to grab the envelope

Roger belts out Since You Been Gone while Greg, Connie, and Fran begin hatching a plan to acquire the envelope. Roger finishes the dance and seems aroused but then Duane reveals that all the pills were Tic Tacs, deflating the moment. The group persists in pursuing the envelope and the supposed layoffs.

Mid-evening Karaoke booth
7

Greg reaches the envelope and Fran's name is circled; divorce papers revealed

Greg finally reaches the envelope and finds Fran's name circled. Roger reveals the envelope contains divorce papers, exposing his marital troubles. Fran sings I Know Him So Well first to Roger and then to Greg, while Greg silently signals that Fran is being fired.

Late evening Karaoke booth
8

Connie and Fran duet; Roger signs divorce papers; tension spikes

Connie duets with Fran as Roger signs his divorce papers, a somber moment that sinks the celebration. Fran continues the performance while Greg, hugging Fran, mouths that she is getting sacked. The group dynamics tighten as Connie and Greg's deception appears increasingly exposed.

Late evening Karaoke booth
9

Janet sings Only You to Duane; redundancy discussed

Janet sings Yazoo's Only You to Duane and Duane stops the music after Fran whispers to him. Duane bluntly tells Connie that he doesn't like Janet in that way. Roger steps in and clarifies that someone has to be made redundant, suggesting he will be the one and that Fran should be promoted.

Late evening Karaoke booth
10

Hen do arrives; Chantel performs Titanium

A hen do arrives in the booth and Chantel performs Titanium, intensifying the party energy. Janet watches from the sidelines as new dynamics emerge among the dancers. Roger and the others adjust to the fresh interruptions.

Late evening Karaoke booth
11

Connie kisses Greg; Roger eyes a young woman

Connie confronts Janet and kisses Greg, elevating the confrontation. Roger eyes a young woman across the room, hinting at further flirtations. Janet mocks Connie, who lip-reads her responses with a sharp retort.

Late evening Karaoke booth
12

UV reveal; Connie and Greg fired

UV light reveals Connie's lipstick on Greg's mouth, confirming the affair. Fran declares that Connie and Greg are fired, turning the group against their scheming. Fran sings with Chantel as Roger dances with the young woman, heightening the chaos.

Late evening Karaoke booth
13

Fran and Chantel perform; tensions peak

Fran and Chantel perform together, her leadership contrasting with the others' schemes. Roger continues to dance, oblivious to the full fallout. Greg and Connie argue heatedly as the night spirals toward its end.

Late evening Karaoke booth
14

Duane and Janet connect and kiss

Duane and Janet meet eyes, and Duane places a hand on her chest as they share a kiss. The moment complicates the night's romantic intrigues and leaves relationships uncertain. The booth's drama closes on this intimate note.

Night Karaoke booth
15

Night fades as the group disperses

The events of the night leave everyone unsettled as the party winds down, with the envelope, the layoffs and the glittery chaos lingering in their minds. Each character heads off into the night with unresolved tensions and new implications for the future. The chaos of the karaoke booth settles into a fragile, uncertain calm.

Night Karaoke booth

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:05

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Claustrophobic Ensemble Dramas like Empty Orchestra

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The narrative typically unfolds in real-time or over a short period within a limited space. An ensemble cast navigates a web of interpersonal conflicts, rivalries, and hidden agendas. The primary drama stems from characters being unable to escape each other, leading to a cascade of revelations and confrontations.

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These films are grouped by their shared use of a single location to create intense, character-driven drama. They deliver a specific viewing experience defined by rising social anxiety, the breakdown of polite facades, and the chaotic energy of emotional truths being exposed.

Movies Where Music Reveals Secrets like Empty Orchestra

Characters use music and performance to express what they cannot say aloud.Find movies similar to Empty Orchestra where song choices and musical moments act as emotional confessionals. If you enjoyed how karaoke exposed the characters' hidden feelings, you'll appreciate these stories where performance breaks down walls and speaks the unspeakable.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative uses musical numbers or significant song choices as pivotal turning points. These moments bypass dialogue and directly communicate a character's inner state—be it love, regret, rivalry, or despair—to other characters and the audience, often shifting the dynamics of the story.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects films that share a unique narrative device: using music as a primary tool for character development and emotional revelation. The shared experience is the catharsis and dramatic weight of a performance that lays a character's soul bare.

Unlock the Full Story of Empty Orchestra

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Empty Orchestra Summary

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Empty Orchestra Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Empty Orchestra

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Empty Orchestra

Empty Orchestra Spoiler-Free Summary

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Empty Orchestra Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Empty Orchestra

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