A single mother struggles with her 14-year-old son. One afternoon she rescues a guitar from a trash heap in hopes the gift will bring them together. The guitar achieves its purpose just not the way you expect. Flora and Son arrives courtesy creative genius John Carney, the filmmaker behind the naturalistic musical Once. Fans will take particular notice of lead actress Eve Hewson who happens to be Bono's daughter. Actor Joeph Gordon-Levett adds another layer of delight as an online guitar teacher who takes Flora as a client when her son shows no interest in guitar. Gordon-Levett speaks to the love of music that drives Flora and Son's charm. A few sessions with him, and Flora finds her own voice. I especially love a scene in which Flora watches a video of Joni Mitchell singing her timeless Both Sides Now. I love the way Flora and Son lets the music play allowing us to cheer for these characters, even if we know where the story's going. Fans of the recent Academy Award winner CODA will warm to Flora and Son. The two films resonate.
