Sing Street (2016), directed by John Carney

For 1980s music tragics there is much to love about this film. Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, The Cure, The Jam and Ah-Ha are all dominant influences on the nascent career of Conor Lalor. Struggling at a new school, he starts a band to impress a girl so she can appear in the music videos. The original songs develop beautifully along with the main character, gaining strength and depth as he does. The relationship between the misfit boys in the band, especially songwriters Conor and Eamon, is nicely developed in an understated way. But Conor’s muse, enigmatic wild child Raphina, remains a fantasy figure for most of the film – we don’t even learn her name until more than half way through. This is all about the boys. Ferdia Walsh-Peelo (!) is charming as Conor. Lucy Boynton does well in the difficult role of Raphina, but she looks too old for the part. Maria Doyle Kennedy and Aiden Gillen add a touch of star power as Conor’s parents. Darker subversive elements are lightly touched on – child abuse in the home and by Catholic Brothers; bullying; domestic violence and family breakdown. These elements underpin rather than define the story, which is largely amusing, touching and nostalgic without being sentimental. It is a pity then that the ending is pure trash, requiring total suspension of disbelief in a bridge and a boat too far.