Sing Street by John Carney is a humorous and sometimes heartfelt, Dublin based Coming of Age movie complete with teenage band (and catchy songs), dysfunctional family, first crush etc. So far so good. However, as much as we would like to, we cannot recommend this film for study in the classroom due to the high content of inappropriate sexual comments and content. Here are some examples taken from the IMDB.com web-site:
* A mother is seen putting batteries into a dildo while her son plays downstairs with his band. It is implied that she will be masturbating upstairs while her son's band drowns out the sound.
* In one scene, a piece of graffiti in the background reads: "I rode your Ma!"
* A man in his twenties tells a tenage boy how he used to "ride" lots of girls.
* A teenage character says: "Lick my balls" in one scene
* A man mentions that the Christian Brothers School is full of "rapist bullies".
* A teenage girl tells a teenage boy that her boyfriend just wanted to "ride" her.
* An older brother asks his 15-yr-old brother if he wants to have sexual intercourse with a 16-yr-old girl and he confirms that he does.
There are also many scenes of bullying in which victims are asked to remove their clothes, victims are often pushed, punched, beaten (implied), smacked or head-butted. Homophobic terms such as "queer" and "faggot" are used, and various examples of offensive bad language are scattered throughout the film.
Drugs and alcohol are used by the parents, the priest, the older brother and the teenagers themselves in this movie so no good role models here!
Verdict: Not suitable for study in the English classroom. Reviewed by Irishparents
I sat down to watch this movie last night with my family and had to turn it off as it was so offensive.....when did material of this sort get added into our children's curriculum ? I do not allow/encourage behaviour or language like this in my home, so why should myc hildren be learning this at school?
Leon, Co. Wicklow
This movie should not be allowed in our schools as it only encourages our young people to be crude and promiscuous.....
Lara B, Co. Cork
Highly offensive. Thumbs down from our family....
Tony F. Co.Wicklow