I’ve been a huge fan of John Carney movies, specifically his music-themed ones since he directed ONCE in 2007. Just like most of his films, Flora and Son is set in Dublin, where the writer/director was born. It centers on Flora (Eve Hewson), a single mom who has a testy relationship with his only son Max (Oren Kinlan). I’m not a mom but I’d imagine it’s tough being a parent of a teenager, especially when you’re raising one by yourself. No matter how hard Flora tries, she just can’t find a way to connect with her son. One day she takes a guitar home from a dumpster in the hope that Max would want to learn to play it, but when he refuses, she ends up taking up learning the instrument herself.

It’s a simple story that’s brimming with so much soul, and I love that Carney keeps it real and grounded. Its heroine Flora is a flawed and raw character who can come across as really harsh at times. The movie is rated R for its foul-mouthed language, but it feels authentic as I’d imagine that’s how the characters talk. Flora still wants her ex-husband (Jack Reynor) back but she can’t help but insult him while flirting with him. Despite her struggles though, you know she tries to be the best mother she knows how. I’ve only seen Hewson in a couple of things so far and she continues to impress me with her magnetic screen presence and versatility. Her Flora has wit, spunk, and heart that makes you effortlessly root for her despite her flaws. I sure hope this film will finally be her breakout role that gets her noticed.

I read that Carney dedicates this film to mothers everywhere (as he dedicated Sing Street to brothers everywhere), and it sure lives up to the title. The mother and son end up bonding over music, though not in a way that Flora expected at first. The moment the two actually work on something together without bickering is a really touching moment. My favorite moments are definitely between Flora and Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an LA-based musician who gives guitar lessons over Zoom. I adore the night-rooftop scene as distance can’t keep two broken souls from connecting in a profound way.

I love the fantastical way Carney films these scenes, as Jeff would ‘come out of her laptop screen’ as it were, and share the same physical space with Flora in a few scenes. Gordon-Levitt is a gifted musician himself who can play drums and guitar so he’s totally believable–and utterly charming–in the role. His rendition of Tom Waits’s’ I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You just melts my heart while Hewson, daughter of Paul Hewson, aka U2’s Bono, clearly inherits musical talents from her father.

The fact that Dublin is Carney’s hometown, he obviously knows the capital of Ireland like the back of his hand. It’s nice to see the less-glamorous, working-class side of the city, though of course he still captures its beauty. The scene in Griffith Park where Flora takes her virtual guitar lesson is really picturesque. The music and lovely songs are certainly the highlight, as Carney definitely believes in its cathartic power that can transform people’s lives. The message that one person’s trash can be a gift for another is beautifully realized in this inspiring feel-good drama.

Have you seen Flora and Son? I’d love to hear what you think!