Flora and Son: Making You Feel Something
Sean Fennessey at The Ringer (my favorite critic), once said that one of the reasons he loves movies is because they make him “feel” something. A description of the artform that is subtly beautiful and quite poignant. We can all relate to this sentiment. And while we may not have the words to vocalize it, it’s innate in our viewing experience. We chase that which will make us feel something. Different films bring about different feelings but it’s the feeling that is memorable in the best movies. Often, we tie ourselves to those directors that can effectively and consistently make us feel something. John Carney is one such director. Throughout his filmography he constantly creates deep emotional connections with his character and stories. While each film is different in its subject matter, characters and tone, he’s able to bring out feelings because of his ability to capture genuine emotion.
Much like John Carney’s precious work, Flora and Son, makes you feel good. This prevailing feeling in his work is truly beautiful to experience because he gets there differently each time. Even if the ending is sad or different than you would want or expect, the film still falls in the category of a feel good film. He achieves this because his character development is so strong, and that’s ultimately what drives that good feeling. Flora and Son is another example of this and arguably his biggest challenge. Flora (Eve Hewson) is a very complicated character, who is going through a complex and hard to identify experience.
Flora is a mess when we meet her. Going through life on cruise control with the foe happiness that accompanies her angst. Her life is in a way a reflection of what she thought it would be and there are no prospects. That cruise control seems as much of a defense mechanism as her rough edges. She just doesn’t seem happy, and that has rubbed off on everyone around her. While this all makes for messy characters, Flora is never totally lost. A lot of this comes from a revelatory performance from Eve Hewson.
Charming her way into our hearts, even as she objectifies Jeff (Joseph Gordon Levitt) or berates her son. There is something underneath all of that that Hewson brings forward in Flora, which allows us to stick with her. This also comes for Carney and how he presents this character to us. We see her in the midst of all her flaws and that allows for some empathy. That empathy allows us to connect with her because her reason for being in this state is one that is understandable. This is the super power of John Carney. He disarms you with subtle humor, good music and a light touch to access our empathy. Then he uses it to create a connection that later emotionally pays off.
The two relationships Carney uses to pull off this trick are with Flora’s son and her Zoom music teacher. With the latter he establishes expectations and then subverts them as a way to show character growth. From the moment Flora and Jeff start talking via Zoom, you feel a relationship coming. He is everything she isn’t, patient, earnest, open, and seemingly stable. That immediately signals a relationship because Jeff represents Flora’s way out. For lack of a better phrase, he can fix her.
We’ve all seen enough movies to understand this dynamic. As their relationship builds and we begin to fall even more in love with the idea of them together, the rug is pulled from underneath. We realize in the midst of all the flirtation, that we weren’t merely seeing a budding relationship, we were seeing a person find themselves. Flora becomes more vulnerable, which is a byproduct of caring about someone. But it is also a result of the music lessons. That vulnerability allows Flora to see what she is missing and genuine human connection is the root of her angst. While love can sometimes bring that guard down, oftentimes it’s just a real connection that one needs. They both realize that and it’s as beautiful to watch as it is smart for Carney to write.
Subverting the expectation of the Flora/Jeff relationship, brings the film to its central relationship, Flora and her son. Even with the film entitled Flora and Son, it’s easy to be dazzled by the possible romance and forget what the film is really about. But once it comes back to this, we find its soul. To say that Max and Flora hate each other would be too easy. They give off the appearance of hate, but it’s more of a mutual disappointment. Flora’s life was upended by the birth of Max and it hasn’t brought her the life she thought it would. Instead she feels as if it’s been taken away.
A harsh but understandable belief. Max is parentless and is seeking that love and acceptance. While they find themselves opposed in this, they are so similar, which also drives them apart. It’s Flora’s music lessons that bring them together. All that vulnerability Flora starts living with goes right to Max and we begin to see the mother that he’s always wanted and she’s always wanted to be. She connects with him over his music and a real bond is struck. All leading to an emotional final scene that is equally funny, charming and cute.
It’s the authentic and genuine ending that Carney is so good at. It doesn’t offer all the answers, but we get some. More importantly we get an abundance of hope and optimism. That’s what leaves us with that good feeling. The hope that Flora and Max will be okay. That they will continue to build this relationship. And that if they can, we all can. It’s the hope of a better tomorrow no matter what today is that Flora and Son gives us, and that is incredibly beautiful.
