140. Ali & Eva; movie review

 

ALI & EVA

Cert 15

94 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language, domestic abuse

Saturday during our weekend away in London and Mrs W wanted to go shopping so I caught the tube to catch the early screening of Ali & Eva.

This is Clio Barnard bringing more of her occasional reflections of working-class Yorkshire to the big screen.

And it poses many big questions about age, religion and family.

Ali & Eva stars Claire Rushbrook as single mum Ada who is rebuilding her life as a teaching assistant at an inner-city primary school.

She appears to have given up on love until the quirky Ali (Adeel Akhtar) gives her a lift in the pouring rain.

The pair share a passion for music and a common need for companionship or even love.

But they have hellishly complicated backgrounds and have so much baggage they could fill an airport departure lounge.

In addition, there is no way that their respective families, who are bursting with prejudice, are going to understand them getting together.

Consequently, both Ali & Ada have to conjure with whether they should pursue a relationship or yield to obstacles which often seem insurmountable.

Rushbrook and Akhtar give really compelling performances in the title roles, offering great depth to characters who are believable and alluring.

Misunderstandings abound as they try to find their way without the hurt which they seem to believe is inevitable.

Barnard is careful to avoid easy answers but she has created a movie which is nonetheless uplifting.

Thanks to her films, I feel as if I know Bradford and its surrounds intimately.

Reasons to watch: Tender and realistic

Reasons to avoid: Might be too low on action for some

Laughs: Two

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7/10

Did you know? Interracial couples may seem common but the latest figures show they account for only 7% of relationships in England and Wales. 

The final word. Clio Barnard: "I want an audience to walk out feeling things are possible. I want people to walk out with a feeling that these two people have been a catalyst for change in one another’s lives and that’s what is important and that’s what matters and with that change comes possibility. They’re both a bit stuck and they both change one another and that’s enough." The Play List

Share this post