The thing I like most about Instagram is observing the musician tribe. A few tribes, actually. Humans are not so much divided by race, countries, and cultures as they are by talent. It’s the particular talent that produces a tribe of humans who can relate to each other better than they can to any of their blood family members.
I enjoy world-class talented female bass guitarists: the Indian Mohini Dey, the Polish Kinga Glyk, the Austrian Julia Hofer, and a slew of Brazilians. As a former drummer, I enjoy the very German Anika Nilles, the Canadian Hasidic Jewish Dalia Shusterman, the secular Jewish Madden Klass—phenom drummers all—as good or better than greats like Buddy Rich and Max Roach. And then there’s the Brazilian El Estepario Siberiano, who’s so amazing at drums most of his followers seriously think he’s either a straight-up alien, or an AI robot.
‘Flora and Son’
The contagiously charming can’t-miss musical/rom-com “Flora and Son” features lots of fun, head-bopping music, along with hilarious Irish ribbing and insults, and a sweet romance. However, far and away the best thing about it is that actress Eve Hewson is, without doubt, a star on the rise. You’re going to be seeing a lot of her soon. Luckily, the whole cast is game, and Ms. Hewson has lots of talent to bounce her star-power off of.
The film’s title gives the premise away a little bit; Flora (Hewson) is a single mom struggling to raise her loutish, one-more-petty-crime-and-he’s-going-to-juvie, preteen son Max (Oren Kinlan). Flora had Max with her bassist ex (Jack Reynor) in her teens.
Guitar!
Spying a beat-up guitar in a dumpster, Flora has it repaired as a birthday present for Max. But Max is more of a rap and digital-synth kinda kid, like most of his contemporaries. So Flora thinks what the heck and signs up for lessons for herself with an online guitar instructor from Los Angeles. Logging on, from Dublin (with a glass of wine), Flora meets Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).
Overall
Now, make no mistake about it, Flora’s not a poster child for motherhood—she swears, drinks, smokes, steals, and can’t manage to prioritize her son, or her own well-being and mental health. And yet we’re riveted by her story and root for her success, both despite of, and because of, her personality flaws. As she marches down her path of self-discovery, she finds new ways to connect with her son. For mothers, the film will undoubtedly ring universally true.
For Ms. Hewson, this role will also undoubtedly catapult her to the next level of fame. Foul-mouthed Flora, the brazen-hussy, electric-charismatic lead, ticks a lot of boxes. She sings, dances (mostly for laughs, but, as per acting industry lingo, she’s an “actress that moves well”) nails the working-class Dublin humor, has yards and scads of likeability, and is no slouch in the sex-appeal department.
“Flora and Son” has refreshing confidence, the undeniable chemistry of its characters, and a thoroughly enjoyable soundtrack including original songs written by director John Carney, Ms. Hewson herself, and co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
