SING STREET

Directed by: John Carney

Released: 2016

To call ‘Sing Street’ an Aidan Gillen film is a bit of a stretch as he only appears in a handful of scenes. But that is not to say this Dublin based mix of drama and music (I wouldn’t go as far as to say it is a musical) is not worth your time.

The story is set in Dublin in the 1980’s and revolves around a teenage boy, (Conor, played by Fedia Welsh-Peeelo who also starred with Aidan in ‘Dave Allen at Peace’). After meeting a mysterious girl, who he is keen to impress, Conor, sort of accidently, starts a band.  Fedia and the rest of the young cast are impressive, and the songs are superb, they certainly tap into the music of the period.  The various fashion choices Conor goes through raise a smile, and are familiar to anyone who grew up in the 80’s.

Conor has problems at home, where his parents are constantly at war, and at school where he is bullied, largely for being ‘different’, a situation that, sadly, is even more relevant these days. However, these issues are dealt with sensitively and, with a degree of dark Irish humour. Ultimately, Conor’s dissatisfaction with his everyday life keeps him striving for musical success as a means of escape.

It is Conor’s older brother Brendon (Jack Reynor) that starts his musical education and encourages him not to follow in his footsteps and stagnate in family home, but to get out and see the world. And it is to Brendon, Conor turns for guidance at various times throughout the film.

Aidan plays Robert, Conor’s father with Maria Doyle Kennedy playing his mother, Penny, and yes, she had worked with Aidan prior to this, she played his sister in Queer as Folk. By no means a stretch for someone of Aidan’s talents, the highlight of this performance. is a dream dance sequence, aside from that he has very little to do.  This is one film I can understand him wanting to be even a small part of, growing up in the 80s and being a music fan, it appeals even on a nostalgic level. That is even before you consider the great script and the Dublin setting, which is used to maximum effect. 

The ending is on par with this style of feelgood film, not that, that in any way detracts from it’s appeal, and who doesn’t love a happy ending for warm and endearing characters such as those on display here.

The film was nominated for the ‘Best Musical or Comedy Film’ in the 2017 Golden Globes where it lost out to ‘La La Land’, a more traditional musical and a bigger box office hit, but to my mind a far inferior film.

I would say, come for the music or the great story line, but don’t expect to see too much of Aidan, despite that this still rates high on my list of Aidan projects, that is how good it is.