Flora and Son

Written and directed by John Carney is this good hearted comedy drama. Flora (Eve Hewson) is a single mum of her 14 year old son Max (Orén Kinlan). Both Mum and Son are a little lost, neither really sure where there life is heading. Flora occasionally resenting giving up so much at a young age. Son resenting his Mum like 14 year olds can. Flora then presents Max with a guitar and hopes it will rekindle his love of music. But it doesn’t work out as she hopes, but rather than throw it away she starts online guitar lessons with Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). A decision that opens up new relationships for Flora with Jeff, Max, and Max’s father Ian (Jack Reynor). As with all new relationships things don’t go smoothly. But thanks to music it may just work out.

Flora and Son, while predictable, is a good hearted story about relationships and hope. And although not perfect it is funny and engaging, with characters who you invest in during its relatively short 97 minutes runtime.

Where it is at its very best is when it focusses on Flora and Max’s realtionship. A wholly believable young mother, teenage son realtionship.bA son growing up and a mother who has lost her way. But it’s this story that lifts it above an average romcom.

This is less true for the romcom realtionship between Flora and Jeff her online guitar teacher. It’s a realtionship that never feels believable. The connection never really convinces and the film would have worked just as well without it.

The script zips along nicely with plenty of humour and the original songs fit in well. And it builds well to its satisfying and touching end.

Flora and Son is a predictable but enjoyable and warm hearted story. It’s at its best when it focuses on its engaging mother and son relationship, rather than the disposable romcom story. While it has its problems, overall it’s an engaging touching and very enjoyable story about realtionship and hope.

Available on Apple TV+.