Flora and Son – the 2023 film from the United Kingdom (UK) is set in Dublin, Ireland. It is a sensitive and fantastical musical film. In a charming way and it makes you fall in love again.
This heartwarming film is an ode to the music’s magical and healing powers. Besides, it celebrates the beautiful hate-love relationship between the mom Flora and son Max.
Synopsis (summary) of this 2023 Musical Comedy film
Single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max (Orén Kinlan). So, this film follows Flora, a single mom at war with her son, Max. Encouraged by the police to find Max a hobby, Flora tries to find a hobby for Max.
Hence, she rescues a beat-up acoustic guitar from a dumpster and finds that one person’s trash can be a family’s salvation. Then with the help of a washed-up LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max discover the transformative power of music. It explores the bond between a mother and son on a journey toward a new harmony.
Review of the Flora and Son (2023) movie
About this Irish film
In a certain way, the film seems to be dedicated to the mothers and their strong bonds with their children (in this case a son), despite so many relationship issues and confrontations.
Thus, it explores the relationships between two angry and distressed individuals – single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) and her son Max(Orén Kinlan) in a lovely musical way. We have loved Eve Hewson in the Bad Sisters series too, and in this film, she carries this emotional story on her tender shoulder. She has displayed a unique charm and panache in this role.
It is really interesting that in real life, Eve Hewson is the daughter of Paul Hewson, AKA U2 band's Bono. And here in this film, she tries to take online classes to learn music and play Guitar.
The healing power of the music
Then, both of them discover their common love the music. We all know that all-powerful music is all about making connections, developing a relationship, collaborations and more.
Music has an immense ability to heal the relationship between a single mother and her distant teenage son. In one of the unexpected scenes, we see both mom Flora and her son Max over music, albeit of two different varieties of music – signifying two different generations of musical taste. Finally, the music destroys the wall and brings a mother and son together, in a heartwarming manner.
But, their healing process started a while ago, when Flora started taking online Guitar classes from Los Angeles (LA) based musician Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) on the internet.
Has quite a few playful scenes
We really loved this humourous verbal exchange between Flora and Max, on a video chat in their initial scene in the film.
Jeff (Guitar Teacher): "Yeah, sun is shining in L.A. I can smell the eucalyptus on the breeze, so can't complain."
Flora (mom): "Yeah, lovely here in Dublin too."
Jeff: "Is it evening there?"
Flora: "No, it's just permnently this grim."
In the post-coronavirus pandemic, we are indeed living in a strange world/time, as Flora undertakes online music lessons so that she can reconnect with her son and ex-husband.
This is the time we are living in wherein the love, romance, and relationship stories of the modern world have moved online; as some of the real-life stories mentioned in newspapers.
Intelligent fusing of online and offline worlds
We loved the way Jeff comes out of the laptop screen from reel life to real life when he teaches Flora. They bring their musical talents together on a Dublin rooftop. Besides their emotional duet “Meet in the Middle”, we also liked the powerful song by Joni Mitchell (check below), which touches your heart with its incredible – lyrics and music.
Lovely actors, lovable characters & the conclusion
No doubt, Flora, Max, Jeff and Ian – they all make the pieces of very fine music together in this film. We have always believed in the tremendous healing power of music.
Eve Hewson, Orén Kinlan and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have been really terrific in this contemporary tale of our times. This film makes you emotional for all the right reasons. We really liked the satisfying and happy ending of the film. Their common love for music removed all sorts of barriers that existed in their lives and strengthened their relationship. Even the tough Dublin crowd appreciated their musical performance. Cheers to that.
Key details of this 2023 Musical Comedy film
| Genre | Musical, Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance |
| Original language | English (UK & USA) |
| Age-restriction | A (18+) |
| Film-duration | 1 hour 34 minutes |
| Released | September 2023 |
| Writer | John Carney |
| Director | John Carney |
| Cast | Eve Hewson (Flora), Orén Kinlan (Max), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jeff), Jack Reynor (Ian), Keith McErlean (Barry Byrne), Kelly Thornton (Heart), etc. |
| Distributor | Apple Original Films |
Poster of this 2023 Musical Comedy film
Rating of this 2023 Musical Comedy film
| FM’s rating | 4.00/5 |
| FM’s short comment | Eve Hewson is in full musical and emotional flow in this film, her presence along with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Orén Kinlan is lively and bewitching. |
Trailer of this 2023 Musical Comedy film
Focus on Joni Mitchell’s song used in this film
Rows and flows of angel hair And ice cream castles in the air And feather canyons everywhere Looked at clouds that way But now they only block the sun They rain and they snow on everyone So many things I would have done But clouds got in my way I've looked at clouds from both sides now From up and down and still somehow It's cloud illusions I recall I really don't know clouds at all Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels The dizzy dancing way that you feel As every fairy tale comes real I've looked at love that way But now it's just another show And you leave 'em laughing when you go And if you care, don't let them know Don't give yourself away I've looked at love from both sides now From give and take and still somehow It's love's illusions that I recall I really don't know love Really don't know love at all Tears and fears and feeling proud To say, "I love you" right out loud Dreams and schemes and circus crowds I've looked at life that way Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange And they shake their heads and they tell me that I've changed Well something's lost, but something's gained In living every day I've looked at life from both sides now From win and lose and still somehow It's life's illusions I recall I really don't know life at all It's life's illusions that I recall I really don't know life I really don't know life at all Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now | YouTube Video.
Featured Image and Poster of Flora and Son (2023) Film are credited to Apple Original Films.