CinemaBlind’s Review – 85%
Flora and Son is a musical comedy-drama film written and directed by John Carney. The Apple TV+ film follows the story of Flora, a single mother trying to figure out how to keep her delinquent son away from illegal activities so that he doesn’t end up in jail. That’s when she finds a guitar and tries to make her son interested in music but when that doesn’t work out she starts learning the guitar herself.
We can see Carney bringing many complicated relationships in this one-and-a-half-hour story, and for the most part, he is very successful in showing a beautiful feel-good story with great music. The characters in this film are vibrant and feel very real which helps in selling some absurd moments.
The performances in Flora and Son are absolutely brilliant and obviously the standout performance was given by Eve Hewson as Flora. Orén Kinlan also gave a complex and genuine performance and while at some moments it does feel a bit exaggerated, those moments are few and far between. Other supporting actors including Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jack Reynor also put forward a commendable performance.
A musical has to have great music and for the most part, the music is very beautiful and gives us some of the most beautiful moments in the film. But the songs by comparison to some other great musicals feel a bit underwhelming. This doesn’t that they aren’t great in their own right its just that they could have been better.
In conclusion, Flora and Son is a great feel-good film that deserves your time, and while it does falter here and there for a very brief it presents us with enough moments to make up for its faults. Another thing I can say is that personally, I don’t like musicals (yes, even “La La Land“) but I would definitely recommend Flora and Son.
Flora and Son is available in select theaters for now and on Apple TV+ from September 29. Check out the official trailer and synopsis for the film below:
Single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max (Orén Kinlan). Encouraged by the police to find Max a hobby, Flora tries to occupy him with a beat-up acoustic guitar. With the help of a washed-up LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max discover the transformative power of music. From the musical mind of John Carney, “Flora and Son” explores the bond between a mother and son on a journey toward a new harmony.