John Carney has done it again.  The writer-director of Once (2007) and Begin Again (2013) has delivered another enthralling movie about the creation and joy of music.  I gave both of those other films four stars — I think Begin Again was the best movie I saw from 2013 — and Sing Street is almost as good.  It’s probably more profound than either of those films, and nearly as entertaining.  This Irish writer-director-composer-musician is a treasure, and I hope he continues to make movies about music for a long time to come.

It’s 1985, and young Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) is transferred to a Catholic high school in Dublin, where he finds it difficult to fit in.  At fifteen, he is still trying to find out who he is.  He sees a mysterious, beautiful girl, Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and impulsively talks to her; in the next moment he is determined to front a band so she can be in their video.  Conor’s journey from timid newbie at school to a rocker who challenges the establishment is the framework of the story — its heart is how Conor gradually becomes a man.

John Carney’s gift is that he ties life’s journey to music, and that music is overwhelmingly good.  Music is the salvation, not only for Conor (whose family life is falling apart) but for the friends he makes in forming the band.  Making music gives him a purpose, an outlet for his feelings, a way to express himself and a way to make a success of his life.  It’s important that within the story no one who might object to the boys in the band rehearsing or making music does so; this reinforces the idea that music is important to everyone.  Music is overwhelmingly inclusive; it can be appreciated by many, no matter how diverse they may be.  That is Carney’s message, and it is beautifully conveyed in this movie.

I thoroughly enjoyed Sing Street (except perhaps for the last song that is performed at the school dance).  Carney’s songs, performed by the cast, are both catchy and eloquent.  The joy of creation, of writing the songs, is a big part of this movie’s charm, which Carney captures with wonderful exuberance.  The characters are compelling — especially Conor’s slacker brother Brendan (Jack Reynor) — and their situations are completely authentic.  It is a marvelous coming-of-age story with as few of the usual clichés as possible.  All in all this is a terrific movie.  ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2.  25 May 2016.