Sing Street and other films set in Dublin

Every great city has its great filmmakers – and Dublin is no exception.

A great Dublin movie doesn’t merely show off the landmarks, however, or sample the legendary wit – although it never hurts to do a little bit of both. It gets under the skin of the city and captures its pulse, via that elusive quality some like to call movie magic.

There are any number of films set in Dublin that showcase the city and its boroughs to fine effect, from 70s cult classics like Flight Of The Doves and Quackser Fortune Has A Cousin In The Bronx to historical epics like Neil Jordan’s Michael Collins and contemporary tales like Lenny Abrahamson’s debut Adam & Paul.

Then, there are all the films (or filums, in local parlance) where Dublin doubles for eclectic global locations, from 60s spy thriller The Man Who Came In From The Cold – where Smithfield doubles, rather convincingly, as Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie – and Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece Barry Lyndon to recent arthouse sensation The Lobster.

Why Sing Street is a great Dublin movie

Then, there’s one of the city’s most recent success stories: Sing Street. From writer/director John Carney, this is a great Dublin film from a great Dublin filmmaker, as well as an ode to the city.

In 2016, it opened the Dublin International Film Festival to fine effect and is arguably the finest Dub-centric crowd-pleaser we’ve seen since Alan Parker’s seminal The Commitments. Like that 1990 classic, it’s a musical. In this case, a semi-autobiographical tale of teenage misfits making music in an 80s Dublin recreated in all its polyester glory.

In the film, a cast of young unknowns are gamely supported by established talents like Aiden Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Jack Reynor.

It’s always fun to see hitherto uncaptured corners of the capital immortalised on camera. In this case, Synge Street CBS boys’ school, which Carney himself attended, gives the film its pun-tastic title – the film’s rag-tag gang of misfits name their band for the place.

Carney did it Once again

Carney already gave us the classic Dublin musical Once, which was a well-deserved Oscar winner for Best Original Song back in 2008. The film included plenty of Dublin street scenes, showcasing Grafton Street, George’s Street Arcade, Killiney and St. Stephen’s Green – to name just a few.

Sing Street doesn’t stray too far from Carney’s winning formula, which he already revisited in 2013’s Begin Again. They’re all tales of lovelorn losers who find redemption via music – usually performed as if their lives depended upon it.

Like Once, Sing Street features original songs, all co-written by Carney. They hold their own against period classics from The Cure, Duran Duran and home-grown heroes The Blades. And Sing Street even followed in Once‘s footsteps to the Broadway stage.

Five other fantastic films set in Dublin

Beyond Once and Sing Street, there are many more movies set in Dublin worth watching. Here are just five of the best, which will give you a feel for different parts of the city.

Intermission

This black comedy from 2003 features a whole host of famous Irish faces. There’s Cillian Murphy, Colin Farrell and Deirdre O’Kane – to name just a few. There are plenty of plot twists and laugh out loud moments to enjoy too.

Viewers can expect shots of the Dublin mountains, the banks of the canal and city suburbs, like Rathfarnham and Tallaght.

Kisses

This coming of age drama shows off Dublin city at Christmastime. It follows the adventures of two teens who run away from home and the ups and downs they experience as they spend a night on the city streets.

The Snapper

This Roddy Doyle adaptation, set in the 80s, is particularly close to Dubliners’ hearts and is a mainstay of Irish television schedules every Christmas. The story follows Sharon Curley, who lives at home with her parents and many siblings, when she becomes pregnant.

The film was shot in many familiar locations around Dublin, including Ballybough, Raheny and Dún Laoghaire.

My Left Foot

My Left Foot is based on the life of Irish writer and painter, Christy Brown, who had cerebral palsy and wrote, typed and painted with the toes of his left foot. Both filmed and set in the city suburb of Crumlin, this movie offers both drama and comedy.

It is well-known for its two Oscar wins in 1990. Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance won Best Leading Actor, while Dubliner Brenda Fricker won Best Supporting Actress.

The Drummer and The Keeper

This relatively recent release explores bipolar disorder, while also taking in much of modern Dublin. Viewers will see Whelans, a favourite location among film directors, and the Chocolate Factory on King’s Inn Street, where the much-loved Blas Café is based. Its striking cinematography also takes in Sandymount Strand and the iconic Poolbeg Chimneys along Dublin’s coastline.