User reviews

Ava's met a guy who's full of soul, he loves his punk and rock but folk don't make him roll, she's been single for a while, from a partner who was wild, used to kick her with big boots to keep control. Ali's in marriage that's come apart, his wife is leaving him, to look for a fresh start, but he's taken to Ava, thinks she might be a raver, although her son's quite prejudice and hopes to thwart.

Cultural differences and backgrounds abound, but that won't stop Ali and Ava pursuing each other to bring some warmth into their cold and often isolated and lonely worlds. Two top drawer performances in a not unfamiliar story against a rugged northern background.

Ali & Ava presents a really sensitive and engaging love story in a way that I've rarely seen.

It feels so real, with the characters written and performed to perfection. Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook are spectacular, both giving sensitive and engaging performances.

It is a very British film in every way, from the location to the dialogue and it captures this in such a brilliant way.

The direction is arty and crisp, with good pacing throughout.

My only real criticism is that the ending lacked a bit of a punch and fizzled out every so slightly, but this is very minor.

A very lovely and sensitive film.

Ali & Ava: A moving story set in Bradford, a few pub scenes with Grace and Dirty Old Town sung, very much about the emigrant experience i the next generation. Cultural difference are overcome but families can still cause problems. A Ken Loach sort of film, although Ali is a landlord. A love story, Ali is separated from his younger wife, Ava is older than Ali, her violent husband dead. Some crazy scenes with stone throwing kids and Ali dancing on the roof of his car. He really has rhythm! Slow moving in some ways but I found it a sensitive and entertaining film. Written and Directed by Clio Barnard, 8/10.

This is the sort of British cinema that used to be called gritty kitchen sink drama, before it just became... drama. Either way this is a rather good one. Set in Yorkshire with a cast of relatable characters, telling a recognisable story, it's easy to watch, whilst being uneasy. Even if this world doesn't represent your life, I'm sure everyone can find something in what's a pretty layered narrative. Ali (Adeel Akhtar) and Ava (Claire Rushbrook) meet when people in their social spheres merge. He's the landlord for a family with a young girl called Sofia and Ava is Sofia's teacher or the assistant teacher that helps Sofia with learning difficulties. That might seem like an unlikely catalyst, but Ali and Ava are both people who go out of their way to help people. Ali in particular is able to break down boundaries with his out going child like excitable nature. Some boundaries run deep though. Ali has problems at home that he's trying to deny and as he and Ava grow closer, he's faced with issues in Ava's world too. Akhtar is brilliant, he always is. I've seen him more in TV, but here as a lead in a feature, with more screen time, he flourishes. Ali and Ava are from different cultures, different parts of town and although they warm to one another, those around them aren't so keen. It's pretty depressing truth be told, but life can be. It's hard work sometimes and no matter what you do, happiness can be hard to find and harder to hold on to, but hang in there. There's no big set pieces here, no flashy cinematic tricks. This is simple, raw and honest filmmaking. A thought provoking window into lives that may tell us more about ourselves than we realise.

Shaun T is great as the emotioanlly unstable son Callum. The main actors portrait a truly believable romance. The movie is both a joy to watch, and at the same time it's rather sad.

There's something beautiful in the ordinary scenes in the movie. British wires hanging in clumps outdoors. The sounds.

The whole movie has a easy going simplicity over it but is at the same time deep, exploring emotions and relationships. The perspective is both a happy one and a sad one. You ss audience really feel the hardship and the love.

This movie suits a lot of people to watch, so please do so. You will not regret it.

Positives:

• Ali as portrayed by Adeel Akhtar is an unusual screen character. Bursting with charisma, his positive outlook on everything and his willingness to step in and help whenever help is needed is quite uplifting. I wasn't keen on his role as the scheming mayor in the recent "Save the Cinema": I found the character plain irritating. But here, Akhtar delivers a wholly believable and touching turn. Both he and Rushbrook deliver a lot of energy onto the screen.

• The script follows a nice "show don't tell" approach, allowing you as the viewer to unpeel the background to the story as you go along.

• Harry Escott coordinated the music and, although not always to my personal taste, it delivers an upbeat vibrancy to the movie. I was reminded of the vibe created by the wonderful "Good Vibrations".

• The cinematography by Ole Bratt Birkeland manages to get interesting angles on Bradford's rather bleak autumnal face, and the editing by Maya Maffioli is also very neat.

Negatives:

• In terms of ages, Claire Rushbrook (Ava) is now 50; Adeel Akhtar (Ali) is 41 and Ellora Torchia (Runa) is 25. I could envisage the friendship between Ava and Ali turning into something more, despite the age difference. But it stretched my credibility that the beautiful young Runa would be attracted to Ali. (At the start of the film, I thought Runa was Ali's daughter!) I wondered if there was an "arranged marriage" aspect to the story that was going to come into play. But no. The script makes it clear that the pair met at a nightclub where Runa was a "fantastic dancer". I just didn't see it.

• While I loved the first half of the film, I thought the themes introduced around domestic abuse a bit heavy-handed and the way it played out with Callum a bit simplistic. (Note: potential triggers here for some viewers, although no marital violence is actually seen)
• Although it may be very accurate, it's not a great advert for the Crime Commissioner who looks after Bradford. A low-point is the casual stoning of passing cars by school-age and pre-school kids. I noted in the closing credits that there was a marketing team focused on "International Distribution". I hope for the sake of the country's reputation that they are poor at their job!

Summary Thoughts on "Ali & Ava": The world depicted in this movie is a world away from my experiences, and I find it difficult to relate to. Many of those featured are locked in a cycle of poverty and lack of opportunity that I found depressing. As such, despite Ali's charisma and ambition as an entrepreneur and the touching love story that runs through this movie, both myself and the illustrious Mrs Movie Man came out of this one in a very downbeat mood. Is "Ali & Ava" a well-made and interestingly shot drama? Yes, I thought it was, and the two central performances by Akhtar and Rushbrook are both strong. Is it one that I would rush to watch again? Nope, can't say it is.

(For the full graphical review please check out "One Mann's Movies" on the web or Facebook. Thanks.)

This gritty romantic drama set in contemporary northern England tells the story of an unlikely romance set against personal struggles and difficult lifestyle choices. It's the performances that matter here, holding the offbeat drama together. Helped by a convincing screenplay and assured direction, this is worth a look.

The two lead performances are good and the night time shots of Bradford are well done. Ultimately for me though the piece as a whole just doesn't quite deliver. It feels as though bits are missing - in the early development of Ali and Ava's relationship and towards the end of the film. A bit of a shame really.

Ali & Ava

This was a miserable "love" story in miserable Bradford, the lovers were a grandmother of 5, mother of 4 and a middle aged Indian man with ADHD and marital difficulties, not on the face of it loves young dream lol.

From the start we, the viewer, were oppressed by the weather (it was raining cats and dogs throughout), the characters (down and out on their luck), the drab buildings (needed demolishing) and the overwhelming plethora of issues (mental health, poverty, addiction, race and discrimination). As you can tell it was not an easy watch.

With that said we did have a few great one liners, the script was okay, and we had some moments of brilliance in the chemistry between the two leads, it was touching and believable.

Overall I'm glad I watched it, I never want to see it again and I'm giving it a firm 6 outta 10, note to self "Bradford is not a holiday destination".

"Ali & Ava" is a beautiful little indie flick (lensed by one of my favourite cinematographers, Ole Bratt Birkeland) that's well worth the time of anyone questioning whether tuning in is a worthwhile investment.

Clio Barnard (the director) does an astonishing job here, cramming in impressive amounts of emotional depth & taking these characters on a meaningful journey in the space of just 90 minutes. She uses music & visual filmmaking to convey a plethora of information to the audience without ever having to linger for too long to stress the points she's trying to make on screen. Therefore, she provides the project with a natural concision & purposefulness which I found appreciable. What's more, I like how this is a rare love story between 2 middle aged people who aren't conventionally beautiful; Claire Rushbrook (who's genuinely incredible here) is 50 & Adeel Akhtar (another great actor, playing her love interest) is 41... Yet you don't usually see movies exploring newly forming relationships between individuals who are their age so this feels like a genuine breath of fresh air - & it's captured so intimately & with such sincerity, you can't help but be in awe of the poignancy of the tale being told. Loved each & every moment.

It was very slow at the start. I know it is an introduction to the characters, but it is clear what is going to happen and where it is going.

I found the depiction of life in the UK very unsettling and alarming. Has British culture really sunk this low?

We are preached to daily about racism, but here it is in full flow.

No matter the outcome, if racism is evident for most of the film it has to be a negative.

The language was simply awful. If you take out the Fs there wasn't much dialogue.

This is my first time I write a review. I found this movie so so beautiful. It made me cry and laugh, so its worthy. Finally a love story that doesn't look like a expensive fragance TV advertisment (aka: Call me by your name...). Complex characters, in complex situations (low class), with complex backgrounds (child trauma, violent experiences...) that fall in love but also they discover himselfs. And finally two main characters that doesn't seem like fashion models!!! People with assimetries and with imperfecions!! Music has a very important narrative paper, and not also love its discussed at this beautiful movie, because it also talks about racism and masclism!!

Oh, as an actor, I found the acting amazing. They won't be nominated for any rewards because they dont look like models and are not in Hollywood, but I dont care. I'm sure they recieve the same love that they give to be in such amazing characters.

100% worthy.

An earnest film what in the 60s would have been classed as a kitchen sink drama.the ensemble acting very good including a bafta nominated role by Adeel akthar.as the title of my review suggests the subject is about trust moving forward and letting go of the past. An ending is left vague as is life.

Thank you to all those involved in producing, working, acting on/in this film. It's absolutely brilliant! Thank god we still invest in British Social lRealism x.

Clio Barnard, the director of "The Selfish Giant", one of my favorite movies, did not upset me again. Very good song choices and naturalness of the actor/actresses accompanying the amazing camera movements. Barnard is a treasure trove of modern British cinema.

Once upon a time this would have been called 'ktichen-sink' but for now let's just call it British realism but whatever "Ali & Ava" is, it's a feather in the cap or maybe even a jewel in the crown of British cinema. It's a Clio Barnard movie which is really all you need to know. She may not be a household name and in America is probably not known at all but she's one of the best directors working in cinema and this hard-hitting, but deeply affectionate film is a joy from start to finish.

Set in Bradford it's a middle-aged romance between two people from very differnt backgrounds. Ali, (a terrific Adeel Akhtar), comes from an Indian immigrant family and earns his living as a 'landlord' and Ava, (an equally good Claire Rushbrook), is a classroom assistant from an Irish background who fall into a relationship almost by accident despite the racist oppositon of Ava's son.

They are united by a love of music and a need for company and they are two of the sweetest people to grace a movie in a very long time; you really want them to make it but you know this is a Clio Barnard film and Barnard never takes the easy option so ... It's also Barnard's most accessible film to date, funny and very moving in equal measure. How BAFTA came to pick "Belfast" over this as last year's Best British Film should be a mark of unending shame.

Solid performances and a cold,wintry look at the Northern working classes elevate this drama that's got its heart in the right place.

It's a shame that the character 'Ali' is rather irritating and never really develops. Like a hyperactive man-child.

The scene where Ali and Ava listen to their individual music on their headphones whilst jumping around is rather silly and ill timed,it's too early in their relationship but this highlights how weird Ali is. I couldn't warm to him.

It's not Clare Rushbrooks fault she looks like Mel Bewers and Kay Selfe but she adds gravitas to her role but I'm angry by how many kids and grandkids her character has , whilst clearly not fully seeing just how much of a drain this is on society and how it is clearly impacting on the school she works at.

She loses points on not being reflective enough on this hot topic.