Nothing Compares
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Illuminating music docu has strong language, mature themes.
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Nothing Compares
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What's the Story?
In NOTHING COMPARES, Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor turns to music to deal with an abusive childhood, her now iconic voice quickly catapulting her into the limelight. She uses her platform to challenge expectations and as a stage for political activism, which ultimately leads to her exile from the industry that once embraced her.
Is It Any Good?
Reframed in the current climate, it's interesting to see how O'Connor's actions may have been celebrated rather than vilified had she been in the spotlight 30/40 years later. Nothing Compares positions the star as ahead of her time, and between her refusal to conform to gender norms and her using her fame for political activism -- particularly on subjects such as abortion rights, women's equality, racism, and child abuse within the church -- it becomes clear how she paved the way for a new generation of female, and possibly non-binary, artists to raise their voices. Archive footage is fascinating, particularly the rarely seen moment at a Bob Dylan anniversary concert, where she is booed off-stage, that Saturday Night Live performance that as good as ended her career, and endless interviews with male presenters who struggle to move the conversation past her "shocking" shaved head. It paints a strong picture of what she was up against the minute she refused to play nice, and how the career of a woman who initially went into music because she "just wanted to scream" exploded and then went silent because the world wasn't prepared for the truth of who she was and what she had to say.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of gender in Nothing Compares. What did the documentary say about gender stereotypes and women's rights, and how these tie in to the political and social norms of the time?
Sinéad O'Connor displays a number of character strengths, including courage and integrity. Why are these important? Can you think of times in your life when you've shown these traits?
Catholicism has a strong presence in the film. How was it portrayed? What aspects of the religion were seen by the star as challenging? Do you think the portrayal was fair?
Talk about the use of strong language in the documentary. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the film?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 23, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: September 30, 2022
- Cast: Sinéad O'Connor , Aifric O'Donnell , Gay Byrne
- Director: Kathryn Ferguson
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Showtime Networks
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Activism , Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Courage , Integrity
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 13, 2023
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