Rye Lane

Rye Lane is a fun RomCom set in the heart of South London, notably in Peckham and Brixton. We pick up with Dom and Yas who coincidentally bump into each other at an exhibition and realise that they have both come out of long term relationships.

We then enter a day in the life (mostly) story where Dom and Yas discuss how they have dealt with their recent breakups whilst going through several interesting situations.

It was cool to watch a RomCom unapologetically set in South London, with several fun cameos and many genuine laughs.

The runtime is an hour and twenty two minutes but it felt a lot longer than that, mainly due to long conversations and the short period to time that most of film took place over.

I did feel that it started to run out of steam at the end but overall Rye Lane was a nice London RomCom that explored break ups, healing and power of sharing honest stories with others.

If you're looking for a film that's lots of fun, with great dialogue and some pictures of folks bums, where two people in despair, begin to form into a pair, then you'll find Rye Lane is probably the one; as Dom and Yas, kick-off their conversation, on London streets they wander round with animation, meeting exes who have hurt, plenty of teasing, taunt and flirt, Mooncups, strings, forgotten things, cause consternation.

What a wonderful piece of cinema, with two absolutely outstanding performances at its heart, a wave that effortlessly flows from start to end, genuinely laugh out loud funny, heartfelt and overwhelmingly gorgeous.

Thoroughly enjoyed this film it kept me entertained from start to finish. Performances were excellent by both leads. My only minor quibble is that for Jonsson voice acting and enunciation exercises are needed. I had to struggle to hear his lines at times and they were not articulated clearly. I can only describe it as mumble mouth. I have seen him in other films, shows and have the same issue. Other than that I highly recommend this film. It is quirky, unique and showcases relationships that unfortunately are very rarely seen in media especially in the U. K. It is impressive to me that they were even able to get this film made.

This is the kind of film you put on when you're tired and want something lighthearted to enjoy. Dom - quiet, timid, and heartbroken - and Yas - effervescent and forthright - have brilliant chemistry as the two are brought together on a sunny day in south London.

The film is a vibrant picture full of bold bright colour and drives a sense of nostalgia as you watch the pair journey through an eventful day growing a bond between two strangers. Rye Lane feels authentic and you can't help but relate to the highly affable characters and their troubles.

The score behind the picture is very well curated. The story feels like it is beating along rhythmically to a beat that paces well to keep you invested without overwhelming. It's fun and it's finger is on the pulse to the challenges of modern dating and finding deep meaningful connections.

It's impossible to watch this film without letting out a smile.

8/10.

'Rye Lane (2023)' feels fresh because of its unique energy and flavour, offering a distinct spin on its well-worn genre by way of directorial flourish and writing prowess. It's this that allows the piece to rise above its familiar plotting and uncomfortably conventional finale. The believably sweet central relationship is strong enough to carry the narrative, primarily due to the witty screenplay and sturdy performances, but it's the extra bits of seasoning sprinkled throughout that really mark it as something special. There's a larger world at play here, one built on background detail and vignette-like side stories, and this grounds the core story in a satisfyingly quirky way. The bright cinematography renders the urban setting with genuine love and the visualised stories with Giallo-like vibrancy. The bouncy editing elevates the quick-witted, ever-so-slightly absurdist humour and is a joy to watch throughout. That's true of the entire affair, really: it's a joy to watch. It's always fun, often funny and rarely misses a bit. It's a sweet romantic comedy that does everything it needs to and more.