Direction: Clio Barnard
Country: UK
Ali & Ava grants a low-key captivation, specifically British, which blends romantic comedy and social film. Written and directed by Clio Barnard, who shot once again in the English city of Bradford, the story was inspired by two people she met on the set of her two previous works, The Selfish Giant (2013) and Dark River (2017). Nevertheless, and despite not being as intense and aggressive in posture, it’s inevitable not to think of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Ali: Fear Eats the Soul as a possible source of motivation.
This is basically a love story between two different people with a considerable age gap, opposite family dynamics, and disparate cultural backgrounds. They bear their own life crosses - he goes through a painful recent separation while she deals with a tough past of abuse. And still, they find an indescribable joy when in the presence of each other. Ava appreciates Ali’s humor and complexity; and he feels comfortable with her warmth and kindness. This harmonious relationship is bolstered through music in a curious way; even though he likes the punk rock of Buzzcocks, psychedelic pop and rap, whereas she fancies country and folk songs.
Constantly juggling with emotions, the film never feels exploitative or icky but rather believable and sympathetic. It arrives in a familiar form that is brought up to date by some scenes of rare tenderness and a script infused with the romantic highs and lows of hundreds of folk songs. The chemistry between the two leads, Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook, is remarkable.
