In Love Actually, Sam learns to play the drums to impress his schoolmate Joanna.
Sam is the stepson of Daniel, played by Liam Neeson, and his storyline is one of several interconnected romances in Richard Curtis’s ensemble film. After Sam develops a crush on Joanna, he decides that performing the drums at the school’s Christmas concert will give him a chance to express his feelings. The effort culminates in his hurried attempt to reach the airport before Joanna leaves for the United States.
The film was released in 2003 and combines multiple love stories set around Christmas in London. Thomas Brodie-Sangster plays Sam, while Olivia Olson plays Joanna. Viewers sometimes remember Sam’s airport chase more clearly than the instrument itself, but the drums are central to his performance and his relationship with Daniel. The concert also features a humorous school production of “All You Need Is Love.”