SING STREET
Written and Directed by John Carney
Starring: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, Jack Raynor, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Aidan Gillen
Much in the vein of Carney’s earlier pictures (ONCE and BEGIN AGAIN), but also reminiscent of the fantastic, THE COMMITMENTS, SING STREET is another version of the classic teenage story–starting a band. And in this case, the initial impetus for Conor’s interest (Peelo) is the delightful, Raphina (Boynton), who waits fetchingly on steps across from the school. How better to impress a girl who’s born to model in the rock videos of the eighties. Conor’s is a rough school run by an order of, at best, sadistic Catholic brothers.
Following advice from his world-weary brother, Brendan (Raynor), Conor takes talent where he can find it among his school mates, and, as expected, comes up with a pretty good group. The boys aren’t afraid to don eighties, androgynous costumes and, almost immediately begin to write their own music (again on his brother’s advice).
The movie spends most of its time on the music, but mixes in teen angst, a marriage going sour, and the problems brother Brendan has as a slacker. Dublin lost a lot of its youth during this period. Will this group of teens follow suit? Recommended if you like eighties music. I do.
Patti Abbott
