A gripping and emotional drama that has been described as 'hard-hitting' and 'thought-provoking' is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The film, titled Ali & Ava, originally released in 2021, has left viewers in tears and laughter.
Plot and Cast
The romantic drama follows the story of teaching assistant Ava, played by Claire Rushbrook, and landlord Ali, portrayed by Adeel Akhtar. Their friendship, initially built on a mutual love of music, gradually blossoms into a deeper connection. However, the couple must navigate their respective familial entanglements and prejudices to be together.
Written and directed by BAFTA-nominated Clio Barnard, the film is set in the northern English city of Bradford and boasts an impressive 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.7 out of 10 on IMDb.
Critical Acclaim
Since its release, Ali & Ava has received widespread praise from critics and audiences alike. On IMDb, one viewer declared, 'As good as cinema gets. Once upon a time this would have been called 'kitchen-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.'
They added, '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.'
Another viewer shared, 'I found this movie so so beautiful. It made me cry and laugh, so it's worthy. Finally, a love story that doesn't look like an expensive fragrance TV advertisement. Complex characters, in complex situations, with complex backgrounds that fall in love but also discover themselves. And finally, two main characters that don't seem like fashion models! People with asymmetries and with imperfections!'
A third reviewer commented, '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.'
Director's Vision
In an interview with The Guardian, writer and director Clio Barnard revealed her intention to make Ali & Ava a hopeful film. She explained, 'I wanted to make something that honoured the people on Holme Wood and the city they live in, and the relationship Tracy [O'Riordan, Clio's producer] and I have with the city because we've been making films there since 2008.'
Barnard also highlighted the importance of creating positive content in a time when good news is rarely discussed. She said, 'The way Adeel talks about it is joy is an act of resistance, and kindness is a courageous act. And we've seen a lot of divisiveness from politicians for their own gain, but what I've witnessed on the ground is people actually being extraordinarily kind and supportive to each other. And I wanted to celebrate that.'
Ali & Ava is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
