The ‘magic of making music’ movie – Sing Street

THE next film being screened by Thame Cinema 4 All, is Sing Street, Directed by John Carney, on Sunday, December 18, at The Players Theatre in Nelson Street, Thame.

Sing street is a 12A certificate and stars Lucy Boynton, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jack Reynor, Kelly Thornton, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Aidan Gillen and Ben Carolan.  John Carney – director of Once and Begin Again – returns to the genre that has become his hallmark: films about the magic of making music. And this is perhaps his most enjoyable and most heart-warming film so far.

Set in early 1980s Dublin, it is the story of 15-year-old Conor and his attempts to put together a cutting-edge new romantic rock band from an unlikely assembly of misfits and loners like himself,  in part to impress the beautiful but troubled aspiring model, Raphina.  Conor’s parents are splitting up, and family finances mean that he has to move schools from the Jesuits to the Christian Brothers – much cheaper but also much more brutal.

Seeking escape, self-expression and redemption in pop music, he finds inspiration in Duran Duran, The Cure, The Jam, and other gems from the record collection of his stoner older brother, constantly re-styling his looks, his hair and his wardrobe to mimic the musical icon du jour.  There are echoes of multiple other coming of age movies: the lads’ attempt to recreate a glossy pop video are reminiscent of Son of Rambow and it shares the sentiment and exuberance of School of Rock. And, of course, The Commitments – the film makes several knowing references to that earlier story of working class Dubliners and musical escapism (including the casting of Conor’s mum).

Book on line HERE

But Sing Street stands very successfully on its own two feet – a funny, sad, joyous, nostalgic fairytale, with a great sound track. Watch the trailer HERE

OTHER Up-coming films:

An independent British comedy about two young women on a road trip to scatter the ashes of a close friend, with a stellar cast including Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith in Downton Abbey), Alison Steadman, Jane Asher, Nigel Planer, Sally Phillips and even Matthew Kelly!. The producer of the film grew up near Thame and he is coming along and will stay for a Q&A after the movie. This will be a rare chance to see the film in the cinema – it had a very limited cinema release. More details to follow.

Sun Jan 15 I Daniel Blake

Sat Jan 21 The Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Fri Jan 27 Julieta

Fri Feb 3 Bridget Jones’s Baby (charity screening for the Mayor)

Sun Feb 5 Eight Days a Week

Sat Feb 11 Queen of Katwe