Sing Street 2016

As the family gathered around the kitchen table, Conor (Jack Reynor) was about to embark on a journey that would test the limits of his creativity and resilience. His parents, Robert and Penny, had made the difficult decision to transfer him from his current school to a free state institution due to financial constraints. Brother Brendan (Jack Reynor), ever the cynic, couldn’t help but make wry comments about their predicament.

The new chapter in Conor’s life began at Synge Street CBS, where he was introduced to the stern yet endearing Principal Brother Baxter (Don Wycherley). The school had a strict dress code, and Conor’s brown shoes didn’t quite fit the bill. However, it was in the midst of this adjustment that he crossed paths with Barry (Ian Kelly), a menacing figure who wielded a slingshot and a sharp tongue.

The bullying continued to escalate, with Barry stealing Conor’s chocolate bar and punching him in the eye during lunch. It was in this state of distress that Conor met Darren (Ben Carolan), a kindred spirit who would become his partner in musical crime. As they left school, Conor spotted Raphina (Lucy Boynton), a stunning model who seemed out of reach for the boys at Synge Street.

Undeterred, Conor mustered the courage to approach her and asked if she’d be interested in appearing in a music video for his band. To his surprise, she agreed on one condition: that he sing a song for her. With no prior experience, Conor launched into an impromptu rendition of “Take On Me” by A-Ha. Raphina was charmed, and the seed was sown for the formation of “Sing Street.”

With Darren at the helm as manager, they set out to recruit the missing pieces of their musical puzzle. Eamon (Mark McKenna), a whiz on multiple instruments, joined forces with Ngig (Percy Chamburuka) on keyboards and Larry (Conor Hamilton) and Garry (Karl Rice) rounding out the lineup. As they began to find their footing, Brendan offered some sage advice: that the key to success lay in crafting original songs that reflected their unique style.

With this challenge in mind, Conor set his sights on writing a song worthy of Raphina’s presence in their music video. The stage was set for “Sing Street” to take center stage and make their mark on the world.

As Conor’s creative spark is fanned by Raphina’s presence, he finds himself pouring his heart out onto paper alongside Eamon’s assistance. Together, they craft the band’s inaugural original song, “The Riddle of the Model”, an ode unmistakably influenced by their enigmatic muse. A demo tape is recorded and discreetly presented to Raphina, serving as a tantalizing preview for the music video to come. The band soon converges to capture the essence of this new creation on film, with Raphina arriving to lend her artistic touch in the form of makeup artistry. As they wrap up the shoot, Barry and his father unwittingly interrupt the proceedings, with the elder offering a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Barry join the group. The young musician’s rebuke is met with a swift reprimand from his father, leaving him smarting from the physical and emotional blow.

Following this interlude, Conor takes to his bike, graciously offering Raphina a ride home as they navigate the complexities of their blossoming connection. As the conversation unfolds, Conor discovers that she is involved with an older individual and resides in a group home for girls, her parents’ absence having left her without a traditional family structure.

Conor’s subsequent decision to don makeup and dye his hair blonde serves as a bold statement of artistic expression, but it also catches the attention of Brother Baxter, who demands Conor remove the makeup in his personal quarters. The boy is then subjected to a forceful scrubbing, effectively washing away not only the cosmetics but also any lingering sense of rebellion.

The gang reunites to create another music video for their song “A Beautiful Sea”, with Raphina adopting the nickname “Cosmo” as she becomes an integral part of the group. Their next collaborative endeavor takes them to the ocean’s edge, where they capture the essence of their artistry on camera. Cosmo’s initial reluctance to let go and jump into the waves is overcome by Raphina’s spontaneous plunge, prompting him to take the leap of faith alongside her. As they emerge from the water, he plants a kiss on her lips, marking the beginning of a romantic connection.

As Conor spends more time with Raphina, she shares the painful truth about her past, including the loss of her father in a tragic car accident and her mother’s ongoing struggles with manic depression. Her philosophy of embracing life’s contradictions and creating art as a means of coping resonates deeply with Cosmo. He begins to apply this “happy-sad” outlook to his daily life, even when confronted by Barry’s taunts. With newfound confidence, he effortlessly shrugs off the negative influences and heads to class.

The trio of friends - Conor, Darren, and Eamon - catches wind of an upcoming dance event where they’ll have the opportunity to perform alongside their bandmates. The boys throw themselves into rehearsals, juggling this creative outlet with the demands of approaching midterms.

Cosmo embarks on a quest to reconnect with Raphina, persuading her to join him on an adventure that whisks them away from the mundane. They set sail on his grandfather’s motorboat, navigating the tranquil waters to Dalkey Island where they indulge in a warm cup of tea and sweet treats, accompanied by the soothing sounds of nature. As they gaze out at the horizon, their eyes meet with the majestic sight of the ferry making its way to England, symbolizing new horizons and possibilities. The romantic tension between them simmers, culminating in another tender kiss.

Meanwhile, back at home, Robert and Penny reveal that their marriage has reached a breaking point, as Penny confesses her newfound love for her boss, citing Robert’s neglect as the primary catalyst for her departure. She will be relocating to the boss’s residence, while Robert vows to strike out on his own, securing an apartment in the process. Though this development is anticipated, Brendan’s response is one of devastation, his sense of identity and purpose shattered by the news. In a fit of rage, he smashes his cherished record player, releasing pent-up frustration.

As the band prepares for their music video shoot, Cosmo anxiously awaits Raphina’s arrival, only to be left disappointed as she fails to appear. His imagination runs wild, envisioning a 1950s-themed prom night à la “Back to the Future,” complete with Baxter executing daring backflips across the dance floor. Robert and Penny make a cameo appearance, their love still strong despite their impending divorce. Brendan, donning a dapper new haircut and impeccable attire, rounds out the scene.

Cosmo’s search for Raphina takes him to her home, where he is met with the unwelcome news that she departed the previous night for London, accompanied by her boyfriend. Not long after, Cosmo spots Raphina returning, her cheek bearing a faint bruise, a testament to the tumultuous nature of their relationship. The pair retreats to the park, where Raphina reveals the disturbing details of her departure and subsequent physical altercation. Her assertion that she deserved the abuse, coupled with her admission that she might as well settle for working at McDonald’s and abandoning her ambitions, leaves Cosmo feeling disheartened and disconnected from her plight.

As the night of the dance unfolds, the band’s star power reaches new heights, with Barry even joining their ranks as a loyal roadie. Their electrifying performance leaves the crowd in awe, but just when the audience is ready to surrender to the music, Cosmo surprises everyone by announcing a slow song. The gym transforms into a sea of swaying couples, while others retreat to the shadows, seeking solace from the emotional tide. As their final act, the band unleashes “Brown Shoes,” a defiant anthem aimed squarely at the likes of Baxter and all the other bullies that have plagued them. Cosmo takes it upon himself to distribute masks bearing Baxter’s face to the students, an eerie yet cathartic ritual.

As the music dies down, Raphina arrives on the scene, her presence met with thunderous applause from the excited crowd. After the show, Cosmo seizes the opportunity to join forces with his newfound ally, and together they make their way back to Brendan’s doorstep. With a convincing pitch and a shared sense of adventure, they persuade him to drive them to their grandfather’s boat, setting the stage for Cosmo and Raphina’s bold quest to conquer London’s competitive entertainment scene. Despite being strangers in a strange land, they’re determined to rely on Raphina’s impressive headshots and Cosmo’s trove of tapes and videos to secure their place in the spotlight.

As they depart, Cosmo makes one final stop at his parents’ room, where he bids his sleeping mother farewell, expressing his love for her. With Brendan at the helm, the trio embarks on a journey to the coast, bidding farewell to the familiar as they set their sights on the open waters. As the rain begins to pour down, Cosmo and Raphina expertly navigate the ferry to England, undeterred by the elements or the unknown, driven solely by their shared passion for music and performance.