Sing Street

We follow our dreams for the same reasons we respond to art.  Because art, like dreams, has the power to take us away from the turmoil of our lives.  And for the briefest of moments, we’re transformed into something greater. Something that transcends reality.  We feel a light at the end of the tunnel that glows too impossibly bright to resist.  And yet…most of us spend our lives resisting it, choosing to let it fall into a glimmering memory.  We blame the monotonous tome of everyday living for not following that beautiful art. “It’s only a dream after all” become the words at the end of the tunnel that once carried so much more.

That’s not how it should be; we should fall in love with our dreams the same way we fall in love with a song, or a book, or a movie (see where I’m getting).  That light should consume us until it becomes an obsession too great to turn from.  That’s truly living. And that’s not to belittle anyone that doesn’t receive this yearning from an art-form.  Sometimes our very nature is enough; having children is enough, because that is just as inspiring.

Especially if you get to watch them fulfill their dreams.

I fell in love with Sing Street, John Carney’s latest film, because it is about these very things.  And it is told in such a sweet and personal way that it makes the impact of music feel like oxygen, just this side of drowning.  Well, music and a pretty girl; muses for our protagonist as he fights through everyday troubles to create because he must, and because he must have the girl.  The film is also an ode to 80’s music in the best possible way, giving it a killer soundtrack.

It takes place in 1980’s Dublin, Ireland, as we follow Conor (Ferida Walsh-Peelo), who is stuck in a home consisting of parents on the verge of divorce, a burn-out for an older brother, and a sister that doesn’t share his interests. That home is in jeopardy too as his parents are broke with a solution to cut their budget by sending Conor to an inner-city public school, where the students are bullies, and the teachers are worse.  As in the beat the hell out of you the Roman-Catholic way worse.

Connor finds some hope in the mysterious, fashionable, and beautiful girl who hangs out on the corner in front of the school.  Her name is Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and he sets out to win her heart immediately.  So he invites her to star in his band’s music video.  There’s two problems with that:  The first is that she is under a time limit, as she’s going to be moving to England with her much older boyfriend.  The second, and greater issue, is that he’s not in a band…yet.  She agrees to do the video, so Connor gets a rag-tag group together to form a band. That band pours all of their heart into the music and lyrics inspired by the vibrant rock songs that are trending at the time.

Peelo and Boynton make for fantastic leads.  They both follow the film’s example and wear their hearts on the outside.  They relate to one another in such ways that the film goes from making you root for Connor’s pursuit of Raphina, to rooting for both of them to save one another.  I also loved Jack Reynor as Connor’s older brother Brendan, always trying to feed Connor’s fire with his music recommendations while giving genuine insight to what it will be like if he doesn’t follow his dreams.

Writer/Director  John Carney’s most famous work is the acclaimed Once, a film that I enjoyed, but only found greatness in the one scene where the two main characters perform “Falling Slowly,” the film’s Oscar winning song.  That film had a documentary look to it that I thought took away from the story, but Carney has found the ability to polish that look and make something much more pleasing to the eye.

It’s the heart where he truly succeeds though.   There’s an absolutely wonderful sequence where Connor visualizes a perfect show while playing his band’s first major dress rehearsal.  It’s inspired by the ending of Back To The Future, and it may be my favorite scene of the year so far.  Carney’s original songs for the film are another highlight as they feel authentic to the time while being worth playing on repeat today.  I won’t be surprised if he receives an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song next year.

The film’s ending is my one gripe.  Throughout the story we see fantasy and reality.  Sure, the cliches all point to a certain kind of ending, but I thought Carney went for something a little too strong.  And because it was the ending, it left an impression that was at odds with the rest of the film for me.  Otherwise, this was pure bliss.

I usually wait to write reviews after seeing movies, but Sing Street left me with a strong sense of urgency.  Great art will do that.

Grade: A