The Title Characters (CREDIT: Apple TV+)

Starring: Eve Hewson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Orén Kinlan, Jack Reynor

Director: John Carney

Running Time: 97 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: September 22, 2023 (Theaters)/September 29, 2023 (Apple TV+)

I really loved director John Carney’s last movie, 2016’s Sing Street, so the test for Flora and Son‘s success just had to be: would it make me want to run out of the theater and SING in the STREET? Not necessarily out loud, in my head would also count.

Alas, it was raining, so I was more focused on seeking cover. But when I got home, I immediately re-listened to “High Life,” the song from the last scene, so that was pretty much the next best reaction.

While I did quite enjoy the original songs, the scene that most affected me the most was Eve Hewson watching a vintage Joni Mitchell performance of “Both Sides, Now.” It made me cry! And then she started crying, too!

Grade: 4 High Lives out of 5 Dublin07s