by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Why are films about friendship so meaningful? One of the most important things for so many people is finding your people. Those who are in your life who make you feel wanted and a part of something can make such an impact. If you are feeling alone and lonely, they can make all the difference in the world. The most impressive stories are the ones that come out of nowhere. When two people who might never interact on a regular day are brought together by something unexpected, magic can happen. That unexpected something can be as simple as a rainstorm and someone offering a ride home. That is the matchstick that lights the flame in Ali & Ava.
What is writer-director Clio Barnard able to make happen with this simple set up? The most important foundational piece is the tone that Barnard sets with her direction. This is not a film that takes a fun or silly tone like many romantic comedies. There is a serious tone that allows for some deeply resonant and poignant emotional moments. But the fun moments that the titular duo share are earnest and endearing. There is a real heart to this film that helps overcome bits of standard drama plotting. There are some deeply resonant and impactful themes as well.
What kinds of ideas and messages do Barnard tackle in this drama? With the setting in the U.K. and the differing races of our leads, Ali & Ava tackle some serious racial tensions that exist. Ava’s family is not accepting of Ali and his background, which leads to a horrible moment where Ava’s son threatens Ali. There are a few moments where Ali’s family is quite judgmental of his new connection as well. Each of these characters have unfortunate trauma from their marriages, too. They each have baggage from these situations, which causes unrest amongst their families. There are some powerfully emotional moments that connect back to these traumas. Barnard excels with weaving in her characters’ backstories organically into the conflicts in the film and the relationship that Ali and Ava develop.
But does this whole film ride on the shoulders of Barnard? Fortunately, the actors come to play as well. Adeel Akhtar delivers quite the impressive performance as Ali. This character brings a lot of charisma and energy to the table, and that is one of the things that Ava is drawn to. His love for music is infectious and leads to some meaningful and poignant moments between him and Ava. He is also quite unstable and can potentially lash out at any moment. These unwieldy emotions bring a lot to the character of Ali. Ava is quite the different type of person, but it is so sweet to see her connect with Ali along this journey. Their banter and love for music brings them together. Ava is much more subdued compared to Ali, but Claire Rushbrook has such a charming air about her that the audience cannot help but be drawn to her. But don’t take that for granted, because Rushbrook can certainly stand up for herself as well. There is so much great work going into this film that you might not notice some of the familiar beats that the film hits.
Do Barnard and her two leads offer up an emotional and moving experience? Two fantastic leads with pitch-perfect chemistry make for an engrossing film. Barnard shows that she can take familiar elements from silly and unbelievable romantic comedies and inject them into a mature drama. You will enjoy the time that Ali and Ava have together and feel plenty of emotions along the way.
Score: 9/10
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