Critical popcorn

Ah, another new John Carney film – who you might know for the likes of Begin Again, Once and Sing Street – and yeah, obviously, this is a charmer!

Sure, his films follow a quite distinct formula, but at the end of the day it comes down to the characters and the actors portrayal, and those connections, and I’ve found something good from each film along the way with its heart always in the right place.

This time around, we follow Eve Hewson’s single mum Flora, who’s struggling with her rebellious teenage son, Max (Orén Kinlan). Encouraged by the police to find him a hobby, she gets him a guitar in the hope he’ll be able to pick up some distractions, and with the help of a washed-up LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max begin to discover the transformative power of music.

Never underestimate a Dublin woman with a guitar. Watch now:

Flora and Son comes to select cinemas on 22 September, ahead of its global premiere on Apple TV+ on Friday, 29 September