Lynn + Lucy

The type of social realism I like to see in film. While it feels so small on scale, it really does well at showing how big these situations can be in someone’s life. It really makes you think about loss and mob-mentality: how that can escalate and unravel so quickly before you reach an irreversible situation where a lie is told or a mistake is made and it’s too late to turn back. 

It’s so bleak in its heart because it’s as much about the endless need of validation and acceptance at any cost as it is about loss and grief.

Strong debut from writer/director Fyzal Boulifa and some solid performances from Nichola Burley (Lucy) and Roxanne Scrimshaw (Lynn) - but outside of those characters, it feels like those other b-characters are so thinly developed to the point where it comes across as if whatever they’re saying is first draft. It’s okay, but it really dilutes the central relationship for me quite a bit. 

Never the less, impressive debut, a lot to love and a lot of potential.

The type of social realism I like to see in film. While it feels so small on scale, it really does well at showing how big these situations can be in someone’s life. It really makes you think about loss and mob-mentality: how that can escalate and unravel so quickly before you reach an irreversible situation where a lie is told or a mistake is made and it’s too late to turn back. 

It’s so bleak in its heart because it’s as much about the endless need of validation and acceptance at any cost as it is about loss and grief.

Strong debut from writer/director Fyzal Boulifa and some solid performances from Nichola Burley (Lucy) and Roxanne Scrimshaw (Lynn) - but outside of those characters, it feels like those other b-characters are so thinly developed to the point where it comes across as if whatever they’re saying is first draft. It’s okay, but it really dilutes the central relationship for me quite a bit. 

Never the less, impressive debut, a lot to love and a lot of potential.

Generally accurate in its depiction of how many narrow minded people view how mental health and parenthood. 
It’s a hard thing for many people to understand, Lucy as a character can be interpreted a few ways by those who can’t see her struggles- I find I only really feel sorry for her, want to help her, because I understand her.
It’s awful to see how so many people- fictional or not- only see those like her as a pure evil, not bothering to consider all the factors behind why she did it, or even if she did, thanks to local gossip rings. The film does a good job of pointing this prejudice out, but it’s slightly difficult to tell if it’s definitely against it. Misery consumes every person in this story in a separate way, and adding that to the proven working class British atmosphere makes it a great watch in theory.
It’s good, yeah, and painful to watch at times, but I probably won’t be seeing it again.

Generally accurate in its depiction of how many narrow minded people view how mental health and parenthood. 
It’s a hard thing for many people to understand, Lucy as a character can be interpreted a few ways by those who can’t see her struggles- I find I only really feel sorry for her, want to help her, because I understand her.
It’s awful to see how so many people- fictional or not- only see those like her as a pure evil, not bothering to consider all the factors behind why she did it, or even if she did, thanks to local gossip rings. The film does a good job of pointing this prejudice out, but it’s slightly difficult to tell if it’s definitely against it. Misery consumes every person in this story in a separate way, and adding that to the proven working class British atmosphere makes it a great watch in theory.
It’s good, yeah, and painful to watch at times, but I probably won’t be seeing it again.

I've seen quite a few promising feature debuts this year and there's no doubt about it that Fyzal Boulifa is another name i will be looking out for.
Social realism is used to an effective degree and it helps us to really feel the love the two titular characters feel for eachother, the eventual downward spiral as a result feels more devastating. I couldn't help but feel that maybe it didn't hit quite as hard as it could have in certain places though. There are certain things about it that left a sour taste in my mouth and I'm aware that this is very probably much the point, afterall the introduction by Guy Lodge did mention how the film is about the corrosive effect gossip has, but the impact was somewhat lost because I didn't like either character by the end. It was however a well made descent into morality and how far a close friendship can be strained as a result of tragedy.
BBC has been showing some very interesting films recently that's for sure.

I've seen quite a few promising feature debuts this year and there's no doubt about it that Fyzal Boulifa is another name i will be looking out for.
Social realism is used to an effective degree and it helps us to really feel the love the two titular characters feel for eachother, the eventual downward spiral as a result feels more devastating. I couldn't help but feel that maybe it didn't hit quite as hard as it could have in certain places though. There are certain things about it that left a sour taste in my mouth and I'm aware that this is very probably much the point, afterall the introduction by Guy Lodge did mention how the film is about the corrosive effect gossip has, but the impact was somewhat lost because I didn't like either character by the end. It was however a well made descent into morality and how far a close friendship can be strained as a result of tragedy.
BBC has been showing some very interesting films recently that's for sure.