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However, she soon takes an unexpected liking to the battered instrument herself and calls on the services of online music teacher Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to help her learn.<\/p>\n
Hewson has struggled to stand out from the crowd until now, last seen on Apple TV+ surrounded by other Irish talents in Sharon Horgan\u2019s brilliant comedy-thriller Bad Sisters.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s now taken on her first leading role for a feature film, and Flora and Son is the perfect showcase for her charming, naturalistic presence and the musical talent she\u2019s clearly inherited from her famous dad.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Her performance as Flora is an absolute showstopper, aided by winning support from Kinlan as the mother-and-son team slowly starts to bond over chords and trance music.<\/p>\n Brutal digs at James Blunt aside, Carney remains as unpretentious about music as ever, and it\u2019s a joy to watch Max begin to find his calling in techno and rap – think The Streets – while Flora collaborates on more acoustic fare with Jeff.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Gordon-Levitt\u2019s music teacher is the biggest issue with the film, as his musical mansplaining all too often feels like Ryan Gosling\u2019s jazz fanatic in La La Land with added smugness.<\/p>\n Their lessons are constrained by Zoom, too, and Carney\u2019s decision to remove the digital divide by having the characters metaphorically share the same space doesn\u2019t hide the fact their stilted chemistry can only take the budding romance so far.<\/p>\n Still, the barriers eventually come down and their 6,000-mile connection is a refreshing celebration of technology in a year where the AI uprising feels closer than ever.<\/p>\n Flirty exchanges and longing looks are still deeply felt through the webcam, and the viewer will eventually soften to Jeff once Hewson\u2019s slinky, wine-fuelled charisma begins to melt away his guarded persona.<\/p>\n Even with geographical and generational barriers, Carney\u2019s central four characters all find common ground in music, the central theme throughout most of his films so far.<\/p>\n In a blunter story, Flora and the family would feel confined by their suburban setting and use music as a way to escape, perhaps eventually finding stardom and success through the charming love song Max and her mother construct throughout the film.<\/p>\n Thankfully, Flora and Son crescendos with a much more nuanced finale, wrapping up complex themes of class and motherhood with an understated yet satisfying celebration of musical collaboration.<\/p>\n Carney\u2019s latest effort doesn\u2019t quite reach the highs of Once or Sing Street, but it\u2019s still guaranteed to have you tapping your feet and reaching for an old guitar.<\/p>\n
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