Remember when everyone fell in love with Once? Well, that was nine years ago now, and writer/director John Carney has yet to, and probably never will, produce another hit quite like it. Begin Again made more money, but the success of Once was a right-place-at-the-right-time sort of phenomena. Its particular charm hit the emotional note that everyone was wanting, and so it became ingrained in the culture and the memories of those who love it.
Sing Street sees Carney return to the same streets and beats that produced this phenomena, but it feels like a safer, more predictable brother than a complete replica. Its protagonists are still in school and just discovering the power of music, so their uncertain paths can be structured into the coming-of-age tale that we all know so well.
Its familiarity doesn’t have to be a hindrance, though. The Perks of Being a Wallflower could have the same criticism levied against it, and yet it remains a personal favorite of mine and many others. Coming-of-age tales are universal because it’s something we all go through, and if a film is honest about how complicated that time period actually is, then it can be something really memorable. Carney dug deep to find something universal in Once. He just might do it again with Sing Street.
Sing Street is directed by John Carney and stars Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Aidan Gillen, and Maria Doyle Kennedy. It will be released in the U.K. on April 22nd, 2016. International release dates can be found here.
Tell me, are you as into the music in this trailer as I am?
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