Miss Flicks

Ali & Ava: Film Review

Ali & Ava was nominated for Outstanding British Film at the BAFTAs in February and now I can see why – it is such a lovely, life-affirming movie.

Clio Barnard‘s latest film stars Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbook as the titular Ali and Ava. They meet one day when Ali collects his tenants’ daughter Sofia from school and offers her teaching assistant Ava a lift home in the pouring rain. They spark an instant connection and become firm friends – and maybe something more.

I didn’t love Barnard’s previous film Dark River so my expectations were initially low for Ali & Ava but then I heard the resoundingly positive reactions and couldn’t resist checking it out. It’s everything you’ve probably heard already – delightful, tender and heartwarming. Two unlikely people getting together against the odds is always a surefire way to make you feel good.

It has some funny moments and Akhtar is particularly amusing to watch when he’s getting into his music (which happens often) but it’s more touching and moving than I expected. I didn’t cry but I cared about them and their relationship more than I realised. Their union isn’t straightforward and they’ve both got baggage holding them back from taking that scary leap from friends to partners.

Both of the leads give powerful performances but the standout for me was Akhtar, who rightly won the BIFA for his work and is nominated for a BAFTA. Ali goes from 0-100 in no time at all and can be sad and low one moment and full of beans and infectious energy the next. Watching him get lost in music – rapping or dancing away to his tunes – was a joy.

Ali & Ava doesn’t do anything groundbreaking and some areas could have been fleshed out more but I really enjoyed the heartfelt story and the tender performances.

In cinemas Friday 4th March