Ali & Ava

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.

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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: 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.

"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.