This film screened on Wednesday 28th & Friday 30th June 2017.

This feelgood, candy-coloured musical romance swept the boards at awards season this year, reminding us that films can provide popular superhero-free escapism. Where director Chazelle’s previous film, Whiplash (2014), had shown the struggle and pain tied up in the pursuit of creative success, here the two leads follow their dream along a much more yellow brick road, with a dash of reality too. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have real chemistry as Sebastien and Mia – neither character is brilliant, but they will make it through graft and sacrifice. Whatever the June weather outside, this will give you a guaranteed sunshine fix.

(Notes by Alicia McGivern.)