John Carney | 105 mins
IRELAND | 2015 | English
Cast: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton
Irish writer-director John Carney refreshed and revitalized the film musical with the Oscar-winning Once and his follow-up Begin Again. With his new film Sing Street, Carney takes us to 1980s Dublin for a semi-autobiographical tale about a teenager who turns to music to escape his chaotic home life – and, naturally, to impress a girl.
Forced to start over at a rough public school when his parents pull him from private school due to their financial struggles, 14-year-old Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) becomes enamoured of the beautiful and mysterious Raphina (Lucy Boynton). Eager to make an impression, Conor invites Raphina to star in his band’s music video – despite the fact that he has not yet formed a band, or even written any music. With the guidance of his drop-out older brother, Conor restyles himself as “Cosmo,” recruits some enthusiastic but musically untrained schoolmates, and sets out to make a band from scratch by studying and emulating the New Wave stars of the era like A-ha, Duran Duran, and Spandau Ballet. Soon, the ragtag group is shooting music videos on a less-than-shoestring budget and looking to wow their fellow students at the upcoming school ball – and meanwhile, Cosmo starts making progress in his quest to win Raphina’s heart.
Featuring a stellar soundtrack that mixes nostalgic hits and original music, Sing Street combines the scrappy energy of 2013 Film Circuit favourite We Are the Best! with the sweetness and charm of a coming-of-age love story. As with the director’s previous hits, Carney’s latest is sure to have audiences cheering and singing along once again.
Sing Street | Monday Night Film Series | Tilley Hall, Room 102, UNB Campus | November 7, 2016 – 7:30pm | See full schedule
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_YqJ_aimkM
