Sing Street (Film)

Sing Street is a musical drama film released in 2016, written and directed by John Carney. Set in 1980s Dublin, the film addresses economic crisis, the breakdown of a family, and the struggles of adolescence within a musical framework. 

Plot Summary 

The film focuses on the life of 15-year-old Conor Lalor, who lives in Dublin in 1985. Due to his family's financial difficulties, Conor is transferred from his private school to Synge Street Catholic School, which has a strict educational setting. Struggling with his parents' rocky marriage at home and bullying at school, Conor meets Raphina, who lives across from the school and dreams of becoming a model.  

Claiming to have a music group in order to impress Raphina, Conor forms a band called “Sing Street” with his classmates to carry out his plan. Under the guidance of his older brother Brendan, Conor develops his musical vision and, over time, begins to use music not only as a means to impress a girl but also as a tool to discover his own identity and escape the oppressive environment he finds himself in. The story unfolds through the band's musical development, the deepening relationship between Conor and Raphina, and the characters' efforts to determine their own destinies. 

Characters

• Conor "Cosmo" Lalor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo): He is the main character of the story. He starts out as a shy teenager but transforms into an artist who gains confidence through music. 
• Raphina (Lucy Boynton): She is a mysterious young girl who dreams of becoming a model and is Conor's motivation for starting music. She becomes involved in the artistic process by appearing in the band's music videos. 
• Brendan Lalor (Jack Reynor): He is Conor's older brother. Although he is a figure who is stuck at home and unable to fulfill his dreams, he plays a critical role in shaping the band's musical identity by mentoring Conor on music culture and life philosophy. 
• Eamon (Mark McKenna): He is the band's musical brain. With his ability to play numerous instruments, he brings Conor's compositions to life and becomes his closest collaborator in the songwriting process. 
• Darren (Ben Carolan): He is the manager of the band and also directs their music videos. 
• Barry (Ian Kenny): He is a typical bully character that Conor encounters at his new school, who turns his social and family problems into violence. 
• Penny Lalor (Maria Doyle Kennedy): She is Conor's mother. 
• Robert Lalor (Aidan Gillen): She is Conor's father. 

Production and Technical Specifications 

The film was shot in color with Dolby Digital sound mixing and a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. During the cinematographic process, a Red Epic was used as the primary camera, with Leitz SUMMILUX-C and Angenieux Optimo lenses preferred for most shots. For a specific sequence, an Arricam LT camera paired with a Leitz SUMMILUX-C lens was used. 

The film was shot on 35mm negative using Kodak Vision3 500T 5219 and Redcode RAW. Image processing was completed via a 2K Digital Intermediate, with 5K Redcode RAW used as the source format and Super 35 (3-perf) employed for one scene. The final release format is D-Cinema. 

Themes 

• Artistic Expression and the Search for Identity: The film revolves around a teenager's journey of self-discovery. The main character's efforts to integrate influences from the outside world and popular culture (aesthetics, fashion, and music genres) into his own identity illustrate how art can be used as a tool for identity construction. 
• Socio-Economic Conditions and Escape Dynamics: The economic stagnation, unemployment, and social despair in Ireland during the 1980s form the backdrop of the story. In this context, music and creativity are presented as a method of “mental liberation” from physical, economic, and spiritual constraints. 
• Social Institutions and Individual Conflict: The position of traditional institutions such as the education system and family in the face of the changing social needs of the era is addressed. The characters' interaction with these structures is described through processes of adaptation, protecting one's own space, and seeking alternative ways out by breaking out of traditional patterns.

Reviews and Ratings

Based on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 95% critic rating and a 92% audience rating.^【1】 According to user ratings on IMDb, the film received an average rating of 7.9 out of 10.^【2】 

Music

The original soundtrack album for the film was released in 2016. Consisting of 19 tracks, the album is 37 minutes long. 

All Songs and Artists 

1. Rock N Roll Is A Risk (Dialogue) - Jack Reynor (0:05) 
2. Stay Clean - Motörhead (2:40) 
3. The Riddle Of The Model - Sing Street (1:49) 
4. Rio - Duran Duran (5:30) 
5. Up - Sing Street (2:44) 
6. To Find You - Sing Street (3:21) 
7. Town Called Malice - The Jam (2:54) 
8. Inbetween Days - The Cure (2:57) 
9. A Beautiful Sea - Sing Street (3:04) 
10. Maneater - Daryl Hall ve John Oates (4:32) 
11. Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson (4:17) 
12. Drive It Like You Stole It - Sing Street (3:37) 
13. Up (Bedroom Mix) - Sing Street (1:54) 
14. Pop Muzik - M (3:17) 
15. Girls - Sing Street (1:58) 
16. Brown Shoes - Sing Street (2:52) 
17. Go Now - Adam Levine (3:53) 
18. Up - The Score (2:42) 
19. Drive It Like You Stole It - Hudson Thames (3:36)

Awards

Sing Street received nominations and awards in various categories at international film festivals and award ceremonies. 

Notable Awards and Nominations 

Critics Choice Awards (2016) 

Best Song - Nominee 

Golden Globes (2017) 

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee 

Irish Film and Television Awards (2016) 

Best Film - Nominee 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Film - Jack Reynor - Winner 

Best Director - Film - John Carney - Nominee 

Best Sound - Nominee 

Best Costume Design (Film/TV Drama) - Tiziana Corvisieri - Nominee 

Best Makeup & Hair (Film/TV Drama) - Nominee 

Best Original Music - Robert Flanagan - Nominee 

Nashville Film Festival (2016) 

Special Presentations - Southwest Airlines Audience Award - John Carney - Winner 

Best Original Song - Special Jury Prize - John Carney, Gary Clark - Winner