This 95%-Rated Irish Musical Is the Most Uplifting Coming-Of-Age Story You've Never Seen

In 2016, Irish director John Carney, creator of Once, released Sing Street, a film that remains one of the most underrated musical dramas of the 21st century.

Sing Street is a profound exploration of growing up, first love, and finding yourself in a world that seems to offer no opportunities.

What Is 'Sing Street' About?

In the 1980s, Ireland was experiencing an economic crisis that impacted all levels of society. Due to his family's financial troubles, teenager Conor transfers from an expensive private school to a free Catholic school with rigid rules, a hostile environment, and indifferent teachers.

It was in this dreary and depressing atmosphere that he met the charming Raphina, who looked like she had stepped out of a music magazine. Enchanted, Conor impulsively lies and says he's part of a rock band, even though there isn't one.

Conor now has little time to assemble a band and begin rehearsing. He finds like-minded friends, and together, they start writing songs, making videos, and dreaming of London.

'Sing Street' Is a Movie Whose Every Cell Is Permeated With 80s Nostalgia

Sing Street is a movie made with a profound love for the 1980s. It features a stunning soundtrack that blends hits by The Cure, A-ha, Duran Duran, and The Clash with original compositions created for the film.

Here, fantasy and reality interact as equal partners, but dreams ultimately prevail in the final chord. John Carney, who grew up in Dublin, experienced many of these events firsthand, and the movie became a way for him to reflect on his own upbringing.

Every scene exudes a genuine love for music and for the time when it seemed like a guitar could change the world. Light, energetic, and sincere, Sing Street captivates with its youthful audacity and genuine love of art.

'Sing Street' Is an Incredibly Uplifting Film About the Power of Believing in Your Dreams

Sing Street isn't afraid to be naive and sincere: it features a coming-of-age theme, sketches of school friendships, passages about self-discovery, and, of course, stories of first loves.

While Carney avoids cheap sentimentality, he nevertheless creates a surprisingly warm atmosphere that makes viewers smile, even during the saddest moments. Sing Street shows the importance of following your dreams, even if they seem crazy and unattainable.

As the credits roll, the energy increases and the desire to dance or sing karaoke grows. Sing Street evokes the dreams of youth and the carefree times of adolescence when nothing seemed scary and anything was possible.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Sing Street'?

• Sing Street has 95% from critics and 92% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.9/10.

• On Letterboxd, Sing Street scored 4.1/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Sing Street'?

Sing Street is available to stream through a Starz subscription on Prime Video and Hulu.