‘Once’ and ‘Sing Street’ writer and director John Carney has a new tune for a coming-of-age romance.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Eve Hewson lead the Sundance breakout movie “Flora and Son,” about a single mother (Hewson) trying to keep things together.
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According to the official synopsis of the Apple TV+ movie, single mom Flora (Hewson) doesn’t know what to do with her rebellious teenage son Max (Orén Kinlan). Encouraged by the police to find a hobby for Max, Flora tries to keep him busy with a worn-out acoustic guitar. With the help of a washed-up LA musician named Jeff (Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max discover the transformative power of music.
Jeff gives Max and Flora guitar lessons via Zoom, which writer-director Carney told Rolling Stone was a major source of inspiration during the pandemic lockdown.
“I had been thinking about the movie before the pandemic, and during the pandemic I thought about what it would be like to pick up a new instrument and learn it,” said Carney. “I thought, God, it would be a blessing to find something to help you through that.”
Carney cast the “Bad Sisters” star and U2 frontman Bono’s daughter, Hewson, after also connecting via Zoom. Hewson’s co-star Gordon-Levitt wrote Carney a letter for the musical film. “Sing Street” alumnus Jack Reynor also stars.
Kate Erbland’s IndieWire review praised the reliance on on-screen video chat, writing, “Yes, the duo primarily communicate via Zoom video, but as Carney explores the possibility of a real human connection on the Internet, he also knows a good fit if he itself It.”
Erbland wrote, “Carney turns one kind of love story into an entirely different kind. Carney has never been interested in fleshing out expected endings, but where he takes ‘Flora and Son’ is perhaps his most satisfying conclusion yet, and while it may take a bit of a tortuous path to get there, that’s not the case? problem with life itself? At least this one ends on a very high note.”
“Flora and Son” will premiere in select theaters on September 22 and will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on September 29. Watch the trailer below.
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