MovieChat Forums > Sing Street (2016) Discussion > Interesting Anachronism...

Interesting Anachronism...

posted 8 years ago by nedwards97
33 replies | jump to latest

I love this film and it is now one of my favourites...

Doing some research I have found what seems to be a anachronism.

The trivia section says this film was based in 1985 but there was the whole 'Back To The Future' scene. Back to the Future came out in Ireland on December 20th 1985.

How is possible that he knew what the film was? Or was the time scale in the film longer then is shown?

It seems to me he started a new school after summer break and he built his band up over the next few months. There was no indication of a season change or something to suggest a lot of time has passed. Either this was a mistake or it can easily be explained, if so I am happy to hear what people have to say.

[–] mkohary 8 years ago

If everything you say here is correct, how is it a "plot hole"? It's an inconsistency or a goof, not a "plot hole". By the way, every single movie ever made has inconsistencies and goofs, so they're not really worth noting except in the trivia section.

I think IMDB at large doesn't know what a plot hole is any more.

[–] nedwards97 8 years ago

I agree with you but if I am right, then this would be classed as a plot hole.

If you look up the definition of "Plot Hole" you will find this: 'In fiction, a plot hole is a gap or inconsistency in a storyline that goes against the flow of logic established by the story's plot. Such inconsistencies include such things as illogical or impossible events, and statements or events that contradict earlier events in the storyline.'

This means him knowing about a movie which was released after the time frame that this film was based in, is a plot hole.

[–] wooody 8 years ago

I'm happy you enjoyed this film. I believe it is the best film of 2016. Even if your technical definition is correct, I think the majority of readers would say...SO WHAT! So you want to point out your scary talented chronological skills. However in the context of this sweet. gem of a film...so bleeping what! I'm guessing your an aspiring cpa.

[–] nedwards97 8 years ago

I loved this film and like I said this is now one of my favourites.

However, I wanted to share this interesting mistake and see what people had to say.
Yes, so what, it doesn't change my love or anyone elses love for this film. It's something I thought people might be interested in knowing.

I don't know what a CPA is but I am actually an aspiring film director and writer.

[–] wooody 8 years ago

It's not interesting...it's a dig. A MINOR criticism that is really not worth the post. As the other reply stated, put it in the Trivia section.I think it makes you look petty. That said, I apologize if you are offended. This is one of my faves as well... By the way, a CPA is like a chartered accountant in Great Britain. Someone who is fixated on numbers and details.

Good luck with your film making career.

[–] Siamois 8 years ago

By the way, a CPA is like a chartered accountant in Great Britain. Someone who is fixated on numbers and details.

Like, someone who is fixated on convincing others that this plot hole is not a plot hole ?

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] T-eschberger 7 years ago

then this would be classed as a plot hole.

No it wouldn't. A plot hole is something specific. A goof or anachronism is NOT a plot hole. A plot hole is something that DIRECTLY contradicts established rules previously established.

The term "plot hole" is just about the most misused and misunderstood term relating to films.

[–] sstweedle_dee 8 years ago

As you said the film starts at the beginning of a new school year in 1985, presumably around August?

Regardless to not showing season changes (and I have no idea what the weather is like in Ireland year round so that may actually be inconsistancy), they do show time pass (through his hair growing and changing at the very least). At the end of the film around the gig they are having midterms, so that would be either at winter time before winter break or at the end of the year before summer break. Also if I'm not mistaken, the advertisement for the dance said winter dance or end of year dance or something like that. It's not far fetched that the movie had only JUST come out when he refers to it, which is why he is so drawn by it but no one else had had time to see it yet except or Raphina...

[–] ciggies84 8 years ago

'Nothing's gonna stop us now' by Starship can also be heard before they start the gig, which was not released till 1987.

[–] rlmandtherats 8 years ago

He's a futurist.
Heh.

[–] KAnnD86 7 years ago

Best answer.

Tomorrow's just your future yesterday!

[–] Quest_Shield 8 years ago

Saw Back to the Future on my birthday Jan 4 1986 in Savoy cinema Dublin. Have no problems with Sing Street and their Enchantment Under the Sea dance.

[–] alifeatthemovies 8 years ago

When Connor asks Raphina if she has seen Back to the Future, doesn't she say "I see nearly everything at the cinema?"

Is it established in the film anywhere that this takes place in 1985 and not, say 1986? Did critics just assume that it is 1985 because they talk about Back to the Future?

[–] highschoolkiller 8 years ago

They also played the song nothing's gonna stop us now from 1987. Also the look and the sound of the riddle of the model sound very early 80s. Like the new wave scene, with the new romantic type of clothes. In 1985 that stuff was pretty dated. The rio video from Duran Duran is from 1982, already 3 years old by then.

I hated Jaws, it had too much shark, and dont get me started about King Kong, waaay too much gorilla

[–] koschwarz 8 years ago

But who cares, honestly. This movie is awesome.

[–] wooody 8 years ago

absolutely

[–] ciocio-2 7 years ago

I didn't particularly remark on what the weather was like, but it seemed to me that, due to the severity of family finances, Conor was having to switch schools suddenly, in the midst of the school year. There were at least a couple of scenes in school that seemed to be about him being 'the new kid' (not just 'A new kid') in the school, which would probably not have been nearly so much the case at the beginning of a school year, or even term. At those times, there would likely have been at least a few other newbies, and even the ones who weren't new would be at the beginning of a new year or at least semester, making a new kid less prominently strange. Anyway, that's how it seems to me now, but I wouldn't bet big money on being right.

Just make a movie that makes me care, one way or another. I'm open.

[–] writinman2004 7 years ago

You have no idea what a plot hole is.

[–] draven_54501 7 years ago

Or what the definition of the word major is. Even ignoring what is or isn't a plot hole how is this major? It effects nothing.

[–] dandeblasio 7 years ago

considering that the era is pretty important to what this film is about, i'd agree that this is a minor plot hole. although i'm not sure the story would have played out any different if it was based in 1986 or 87, so it shouldn't really make a difference to many whether it was an enjoyable film/story or not.

[–] gizmomogwai 7 years ago

When I clicked on the thread, I thought to myself, "I bet this is another IMDber who has no idea what a plot hole is and what he's whining about isn't one." Ta-dah! I was right.

[–] nedwards97 7 years ago

This is the definition of "Plot Hole" when you Google it:

"In fiction, a plot hole, plothole or plot error is a gap or inconsistency in a storyline that goes against the flow of logic established by the story's plot. Such inconsistencies include such things as illogical or impossible events, and statements or events that contradict earlier events in the storyline."

I'm pretty sure him knowing about something that isn't even released yet and making a major reference towards it, is illogical and also impossible. So how do I not know what I'm talking about?

[–] rek16803 7 years ago

It seems to me he started a new school after summer break and he built his band up over the next few months. There was no indication of a season change or something to suggest a lot of time has passed. Either this was a mistake or it can easily be explained, if so I am happy to hear what people have to say.

In the stroll through the park, during the " happy Sad " conversation, leaves were already falling from the trees. It was before the Jumping in the water scene and long before the picnic scene where Conor talked about his vision of a Back to the Future type dance video. This could easily put the picnic scene into the springtime of the following school semester, after BTTF came out in cinemas.
I don't understand why people get so discombobulated over minor issues in an otherwise fantastic film.
In the opening scene, the amount of food on the plates during the school transferring scene conversation kept changing from almost empty plates to ones with spaghetti still uneaten on them. Just one of those small things that happen when filming multiple takes of the same scene over a period of time. Something like that gets overlooked by the stagers in the time sequences. I don't let that bother me from enjoying a great movie.

[–] nedwards97 7 years ago

I understand where you're coming from. I currently study film and television production at university so watching films become difficult when I start noticing little things. aha.

My original post was just to bring to light the small mistake in the movie. And I also said

I love this film and it is now one of my favourites...

I loved this film and I was not slating it with my post. I just wanted to share something I found interesting about the movie.

[–] wooody 7 years ago

Ned...sincerely...good luck in the movie biz..you seem like a nice guy and we share passion for this brilliant, gem of a film. I hope with your keen, almost obsessive eye to detail, you only make documentaries dealing with the lives of chartered accountants.

Your original post, although well intentioned, was a buzz kill. Then to resurrect it months later only exasperated the mistake.

Jeez,,,

what's that old saying...when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging...

[–] gizmomogwai 7 years ago

You did not say "small mistake," you said "major"- it's right there in your subject line. The dicdef of plot hole- "an obvious mistake or missing element in the plot of a film, book, TV show or play." http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/plothole In other words, it makes the plot impossible- a BTTF reference does not do that. It's hardly relevant. It's an anachronism. There's no need to have specific words for mistakes like anachronisms if all mistakes are simply referred to as plot holes.

[–] nedwards97 7 years ago

Okay. Point Taken.