Imagine this: You’re 15 years old and your parents have announced they are separating (because divorce isn’t permitted in Ireland). You love a girl who has an older boyfriend. A bully gives you a black eye every day AND the other one is blackened by your school master. What do you do to thrive in this? How about write some songs with a loner friend and start a band! There you have this film’s basis, and what fun it is from there!
Fredia Walsh-Peelo as Conor “Cosmo”
Lucy Boynton as Raphona
Jack Reynor as BrendanJohn Carney
John Carney
musical, comedy, drama
Rated PG
1h 45min
“Sing Street” is a movie made and produced in Ireland. It is the fictional story of a 15 year old in Dublin in the year 1984 who goes to a bad school where he is bullied and who can’t seem to get a break in his young life. He meets a girl who describes her occupation as “a model” and becomes infatuated with her. In hopes of wooing her, he starts a pop band of misfits as it were but the invention has legs and the band becomes a small town sensation. The main gist of the film is the singer, Cosmo, who does an excellent job of relating his life experiences into songwriting. All the elements one can imagine of adolescence and the recession on the early eighties are upon he and his family. Through music and songwriting, there is triumph. Apart from the virtual success, this film might as well have been the story of my life at 15. I was learning to write songs and perform in my band at that time. As a result, I completely identified with this amazing film.
I suppose in my case, the main difference is I never truly “got in the boat” leaving home to seek fame. My girl would come after I was a teacher for 3 years at age 33, not a rock star at 15. This film is delightful. I love the characters, they are all so well developed. My favorite one is Cosmo’s brother, Brendan, played by Jack Reynor. He is the “sage” hash smoking college dropout that helps Cosmo find the differences between musical styles the likes of “Hall and Oates” and “The Cure.” Other bands’ music is featured in the movie and the original music is stellar. I am already in search of the soundtrack. The song at the end which is something to the effect of, “If you don’t go now, you’ll never know” gave be goosebumps. I hope to recreate that experience once I find the song! Sing Street is one of my most favorite films I have seen in years. It portrays the angst of a teen with his world falling apart, He makes a way through it all and we love to watch it! I highly recommend this film to you. Unfortunately it is in limited release so you may have to wait for it to come out on DVD. It is playing at select theaters still here in Redlands California, USA.
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