FLORA AND SON (2023)

September 29, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. This pleasant little film is such a treat, though that’s not surprising since writer-director John Carney was also responsible for SING STREET (2016) and ONCE (2007), two underrated gems. All three films do what filmmaker Carney does best – they use music as connective tissue between characters who otherwise struggle to click.

Eve Hewson (“The Knick”, and Bono’s daughter) finally lands a lead role, and she truly shines as Flora. Flora is a frustrated woman in Dublin who doesn’t know how to deal with her borderline juvenile delinquent teenage son, Max (newcomer Oren Kinlan). She also desperately wants to find a spark of happiness for herself … even hoping to win back her ex, struggling musician Ian (Jack Reynor, MIDSOMMAR, SING STREET), who has moved on and found Flora’s replacement. Flora was much too young when she became a parent, and though she’s far from perfect as a mom, she knows in her heart that she wants a better life for her son and herself.

Max seemingly has no ambition, and he quickly rejects the tattered acoustic guitar his mom offers as a late birthday present. It turns out Max prefers creating computer-generated hip hop music via software and hardware … mostly in hopes of getting a girl’s attention (a tale as old as time). So, while Max putters behind a closed door, Flora begins guitar lessons via Zoom with Jeff (charming Joseph Gordon-Levitt) pursuing the goal of learning guitar and singing a song she will eventually write at the local pub’s talent show. Of course, Flora is drawn to Jeff’s sensitivity and he to her sincerity and beauty. Director Carney infuses some fantasy into this virtual romance with dreamlike sequences in which Jeff appears alongside Flora, the Zoom camera no longer an obstacle.

Jeff takes a cruel shot at Flora’s favorite song by James Blunt, and instead introduces her to Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” … yet another example of how music can bring folks together. Director Carney also gets bonus points for including Tom Waits’ “I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You”, one of the greats. The connections through creating art don’t end with Flora and Jeff, and soon Max is chatting with his dream girl, and Flora and Max and Ian come together for a blended live number, showing music heals wounds and builds bridges. Sure, this is a sentimental, feel-good movie, but they can’t all be filled with action and superheroes and misery, right? This is one to enjoy. Plus, it’s time for the world to appreciate the talents of Eve Hewson and John Carney.

Opens September 29, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

SING STREET (2016)

April 20, 2016

DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2016

sing street Greetings again from the darkness. The vast majority of 1980’s music usually inspires nothing but groans and an immediate change of the radio channel from me. Yet writer/director John Carney masterfully captured and held my attention with this crowd-pleasing story that leans heavily on the tunes from that era.

Mr. Carney was also responsible for two previous music-centric movies, Once (2007) and Begin Again (2013). He is an exceptional story teller who puts music at the center, but avoids the label of “musical” by making it about people, rather than notes.

It’s 1985 in economically depressed Dublin, and a strong opening sequence introduces us to Connor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) as his ever-arguing parents (Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy) inform him of the economic necessity of pulling him out of prep school and enrolling him into a much tougher environment … one that comes with bullies and hard-nosed teachers/clergy.

Soon enough Connor is hanging with the misfits and inviting an enchanting “older” girl to star in his band’s video. She agrees, and wide-eyed Connor quickly sets out to form a band that didn’t previously exist.

There are two interesting and fully realized relationships that make this movie click: Connor and the enchanting Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and Connor and his older brother Brendon (Jack Reynor). Brendan is Connor’s life mentor and music guru. They are quick to jump on the new world of music videos, and it’s a real hoot to watch Connor emulate the style and fashion of Duran, Duran, The Cure, etc.

It’s fascinating to note that Connor, while a pretty talented lyricist and singer, doesn’t really seem to be in love with the music except as a means to an end … a way to get the girl. That said, the real message here is that while teenagers often feel like they can’t fix the outside world (parents, teachers, bullies), they can fix themselves by finding a passion in life (the movie uses the term vocation).

It’s hard not to notice the influence of such filmmakers as John Hughes and Cameron Crowe, and Carney certainly brings his touch of romanticism. Plus, one must appreciate any movie that delivers an original song as catchy as “Drive it like you Stole it”, while also taking a shot at Phil Collins. It’s a funny and sweet movie that should really catch on through positive word of mouth.

watch the trailer:

 

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Posted by David Ferguson