Writer / director John Carney has carved a niche for himself in creating films about musicians of various abilities. The critically acclaimed Once was followed by the underrated Begin Again in 2013, and now Sing Street that will probably appear on many best lists of 2016.
Ferdia Walsh-Peelo stars as Conor, a 15 year old lad in 1980s Ireland. His parents are struggling financially and they have to send him to a new, rougher, school. Struggling to fit-in and cope with a troubled life at home, he starts a band to impress a girl, Raphina, who he has fallen for, and finds his true identity.
This is a charming film full of funny and heart warming moments with two great central performances by Walsh-Peelo and Lucy Boynton as Raphina. The home life is depicted very well, as are the relationships between Conor and his brother Brendan (a superb Jack Reynor) and between the members of the band. The songs the band perform and true to the era, as are the amateurish videos they create.
I can make some minor quibbles – the band become a little too proficient too quickly, and the music the cool Brendan likes is way too mainstream. I was the same age as Conor in the early 80s and certainly wasn’t entranced by Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet!!
Those slight niggles don’t stop this being a delightful watch, with a neat ending that resembles one of Conor’s videos more than reality.
Rating: 9 out of 10