After his stateside vacation to make the starry Begin Again, director John Carney returns to the streets of Dublin and revisits his past for the ’80s-set Sing Street. Dublin, of course, is where Carney made a name for himself, first as a bassist for The Frames, then later as the award-winning writer, director, and lyricist for the hit indie musical Once. Thankfully, this musical tour of U.K.’s ’80s rock scene has much more in common with the director’s breakthrough hit than the hackneyed artificiality of Begin Again. As A.A. Dowd puts it in his review, Sing Street is “truly personal” and feels more like an “agreeably sweet radio anthem.” Newcomers Ferdia Walsh-Peelo and Lucy Boynton take the lead here, with potential Han Solo Jack Reynor, Aidan “Littlefinger” Gillen, and Orphan Black’s Maria Doyle Kennedy rounding out the cast.
Sing Street comes to Chicago on April 22, but The A.V. Club and The Weinstein Company have an opportunity for you to see it for free on April 18. For your chance to win a pair of passes to the advance screening, simply follow the link here and enter your information. Remember: Advance screenings are often intentionally overbooked, so be sure to arrive early if you want to guarantee yourself a seat. An official plot synopsis and trailer for the film can be found below.
“Sing Street takes us back to 1980s Dublin seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who is looking for a break from a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles, while trying to adjust to his new inner-city public school where the kids are rough and the teachers are rougher. He finds a glimmer of hope in the mysterious, über-cool and beautiful Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and with the aim of winning her heart he invites her to star in his band’s music videos. There’s only one problem: He’s not part of a band…yet. She agrees, and now Conor must deliver what he’s promised – calling himself “Cosmo” and immersing himself in the vibrant rock music trends of the decade, he forms a band with a few lads, and the group pours their heart into writing lyrics and shooting videos. ”