Max Kane, Freshman, Guest Writer
A mother throws her son out of the house every night so she can go party, drink, and smoke. Not exactly the ideal family life. Flora is a single mom living in Dublin, Ireland with her 14-year-old, Max. The dynamic of their family life consists of profanity, rude remarks, and neglect. Flora, discontented with her narrative, decides to pick up guitar. After falling for her teacher, the mother and son find ways to finally bond with each other over music. Flora and Son is a film that shows how making the best with what you have can become the best thing in the world.
This film is a hilarious, heartwarming story that leaves the viewer full of content with not only the movie, but also with their own lives. The Irish setting amplifies comedy that is so outlandish that it’s impossible not to double over laughing at the gags and stereotypes of the culture. The dynamic between Flora and Max starts as appalling (and hilarious) but evolves into a mutual show of acceptance and love. The comedy is the glue that holds this film together.
The music featured in this film is a highlight of every scene it’s in. Jeff, the guitar teacher, played by Joseph Gordan-Levitt, steals the show with his performances. Flora’s development from only liking “dance music” to the songs she creates with Jeff helps to symbolize the growth of her character. And of course, Max’s raps add the comedic relief of the average 14-year-old boy’s fantasies.
Lastly, the acting is what really makes Flora and Son shine. Watching this film with my parents, and my name also being Max, found my mother and I relating to some of the struggles that the mother-son duo go through. It made me think about my own relationship with my mother, and how lucky I am to have her. This is all because of the performances of the characters. Eve Hewson’s witty, rude, piece-of-work performance as Flora not only gives the movie character, but it also shows her character’s change from disappointment to fulfillment. Jeff is introduced with a YouTube video of him explaining how music can change your life. As each lesson goes by, Jeff teaches his student music and provides advice on how to find fulfillment in her life.
Flora and Son is about finding contentment in the life you have. We have all made mistakes. This movie is about turning the consequences into opportunities to live a more fulfilling life. It won’t be perfect, and everyone will have to compromise. Flora and Son demonstrates that, sometimes, we all just have to meet in the middle.