Kindling

Kindling 2023. It's great to go to the cinema, watching a well made movie when it's a riveting exciting story, it is a great form of escapism. Sometime the film doesn't even have to be exciting, but interesting to make it thought provoking or a challenge. This film was neither.

What's even better is when your given a free ticket (thanks sis), so by default I didn't spend any money on the movie. Although I did go have a couple of beers, a gherkin and a pickled egg with my mate John afterwards (all true) so it wasn't all bad.

What of the film I hear you cry, the premise is quite simple a group of five friends who reunite to spend one last summer before one of their group dies. That's it really, think of every film about people with a terminal disease well all the cliché's are here. Well this film is maudlin in its delivery and what is aimed to be a celebration of Sid the central character becomes a long drawn out cliché of a hearse of a movie . 5/10.

Kindling is a film about a serious topic, but made with a beautiful light touch. I loved all the characters, who are so natural and real. Director Connor Ohara clearly had a fantastic relationship with his amazing cast and crew, and this shines through, the friendships and relationships between the characters feels so real. The cinematography is beautiful, of the gorgeous English countryside. The music is moving and uplifting, and enhances the film perfectly.

Kindling manages to deal with a tough subject in a sensitive, non indulgent way. It ultimately is a film about lasting love, friendship and hope. The positive emotions from this film will stay with me. I highly recommend watching it.

An unusual perspective on male emotion, Kindling is sensitively written, sympathetically directed and beautifully shot, with some excellent performances.

We follow the characters though a short summer and we are shown their depth and development as they come to terms with the sad reality of their loved one imminent passing.

The actors put in performances that show they really believe in the story this film is telling, so it is unfair to pick any individual out for praise, as they are all deserving.

And hats off to the young director, Connor O'Hara, who shines a light on this often hidden subject.

I defy you not to be moved by this thoughtful film.

Kindling is the most uplifting film about death I've ever seen. Throughout the course of the story, we peer into these beautiful moments of serenity in companionship. Boys walking through a field just for the sake of it, a young man and women swimming in a lake, simply to swim, and a mother washing the dishes with a helpful man. Connor crafted this film from a very personal experience, as he too has lost people very dear to him. His maturity on the subject is truly the golden center of Kindling. Especially through the entourage of friends pouring out their emotions in some of the most vulnerable scenes I've seen on screen. I could go on... The acting is phenomenal. I personally found Geoff to stand out in his roll as the Father trying to connect. David Wright's Cinematography is stellar throughout giving a warm, safe atmosphere. Harry Brokensha's score swells with the emotional moments perfectly. Connor's script ties it all together. This film has some laughs, some awe, and plenty of tears. I couldn't recommend this enough.

Maybe it was more powerful because I was familiar with it beforehand.

I found it gripping. Compelling. I wanted to hear every word. I wanted to see and take in every scene from a photographic impact point of view. Both from the scenes value to the whole and its visual affect on my consciousness and emotions. Also as one whose whole life has been concerned with imagery. My early years were comics , were about stories in pictures , about visual impact and few words.

Interestingly from that point of view it was very powerful. I suspect without sound it would still work and the message would still be there. Then obviously silent movies had to have impact and get the story across , to keep you interested.

Kindling kept me glued to the screen in a trance.

Was it because I have had two near misses recently ? They say a cat has 9 lives and I have lost many including

Surviving Meningitis , leukaemia and Heart Attack.

So maybe it meant more to me than others.

You can safely be sure that it was a Film I totally related to from that point of view.

Then there is the loss of loved ones. I believe we live on in everyone we have ever met and shared time with. And they live on in us.