The Abbotsford Film Society (AFS) will screen Sing Street on Friday, April 11.
Directed by John Carney (Once, Begin Again), the film is set in 1980s Dublin, Ireland in the midst of a recession and follows the life of 15-year-old Conor.
Struggling to avoid poverty, Conor’s parents take him out of private school and send him to a tough, inner-city public school where he is bullied by teachers and students alike.
Trying to cope with his harsh new reality, Conor decides to form a rock band to try and win the heart of a girl.
“The film is a really charming, coming-of-age story with really great music,” says AFS president Aaron Dawson.
The film’s sound track includes music by Duran Duran, a-ha, The Cure, The Jam, Hall & Oates, and more.
Dawson says the '80s bands give the film all the nostalgia but what is just as interesting is the quality of the original songs.
“What makes the original music so good is that those songs are inspired by the different bands that they listen to in the film,” Dawson says. “It’s really great music.”
Sing Street premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in March 2016 to critical acclaim and was nominated for dozens of awards.
It won Best Original Score form the San Diego Film Critic’s Society and Jack Reynor won Best Actor at the Irish Film and Television Awards.
“It’s a great story with lots of feel good vibes and '80s nostalgia,” Dawson says. “There’s something here for everyone.”
