Rudy

A beautiful, absorbing, understated film that follows a teenager dealing with the loss of her mother, whist finding her own sense of self. It is beautifully done, there is no heavy exposition, and no unnecessarily dramatic storylines, rather the story unfolds delicately, through everyday interactions. The screenplay is very assured, and allowed silence and skilful filmography to illuminate the characters where a lesser film would have relied on dialogue alone. Yet it is never less than griping, it makes you care what happened to all the characters, not just the main protagonist, and all the characters are well observed and believable. The performances are all good, but the main character, Rudi, is exceptional and completely anchors the film. All of this is accompanied by a beautiful score and I just feel so frustrated that I saw this is a village hall and that a film which has so much depth,, done with such beauty struggles to get the same exposure as the more formulaic studio films. It certainly outshone any film I have seen at a multiplex this year. Catch it if you can. .

Rudy is a touching and tender film with a seamless narrative, exploring the profound impact of a mother's death on a family. The husband and teenage daughter navigate the tragedy, redefining their bonds of love. Despite a familiar theme, the film personalizes it beautifully with realistic strength and excellent character portrayals, including the other children in the family and two older ladies, who complement the narrative in a tragicomic way.

From the daughter's repressed inner and interpersonal conflicts, a love story with another vulnerable teenager develops. The touching and innocent relationship becomes a delicate catalyst for understanding and coping with reality.

Stunning cinematography, thoughtful closures, and effective use of silence enhance the emotional resonance. The movie provides a refreshingly empathetic look into the teenage daughter's inner world, capturing her pain, struggles, and mental adjustment. In summary, it's a poignant exploration of grief and growth within a family.

I loved every second. It's the kind of movie I thirst for, a world away from formulaic characters and plots. "Rudy" is uncontrived, almost innocent in its desire to show a human story rather than tell us how clever the filmmaker is. Its beautifully observed and engaging filled with delicate touches of every day life that reminded me how much we all share, away from the glitz and glare of "media" and overstated pieces.,Very human, very touching. I remember "Dear Frankie", Shona Auerbach's previous gem which mesmerised me in the same fashion. If you also long to watch a movie that invites you and allows you to determine your own emotional responses, walk alongside a family for a while as they navigate change, loss and tough adjustments with very little understanding of what they need except to feel safe, accepted and loved - all without it becoming necessary to get psychotherapy or have profound conversations, please watch "Rudy".

This film astonished me, watched in a small village hall with nine others I was absolutely not expecting the quality film that Rudy is. It was beautiful, moving, surrounded by stunning local scenery and set to the most fabulous music.

To have the personal touch of the makers being present to give introductions and questions and answers afterwards was a real bonus.

I could not rate this film highly enough, just a shame that the audience is so limited, would love to see it on a big screen some day soon.

Well done to all involved you captured a moving story beautifully, not sure you could better that !

"Rudy" is an inspiring and remarkable achievement. It is a beautiful and suspenseful family drama that shows that it is possible, even in the present dismal circumstances of British independent film, to produce serious, powerful and sincere regional cinema. The cast are marvellous. Esther McCormick's inwardness and pre-raphaelite beauty are set off against the amazing 8-year old Alice Knights as her quirkily hilarious sister. However, all the players are excellent, especially Darren Day as the decent, grief-tormented father. The countryside of Warwickshire and cityscape of Coventry, both almost unknown to cinema, play an important role in the background. I hope that this outstanding effort can serve as an inspiration to other regional film-makers.