Ali and Ava

Both lonely for different reasons, Ali and Ava meet through their shared affection for the child of Ali’s Slovakian tenants, whom Ava teaches. Ali finds comfort in Ava’s warmth and kindness and Ava finds Ali’s complexity and humour irresistible. Over a lunar month, sparks fly and a deep connection begins to grow. However, the legacy of Ava’s past relationship and Ali’s emotional turmoil at the breakdown of his marriage begins to overshadow their newfound passion.

Enveloped in music and imbued with humour, Ali and Ava is a compelling contemporary love story written and directed by one of the UK’s most distinctive cinematic voices, Clio Barnard. Already the winner of Best Actor and Best Music prizes at the British Independent Film Awards, and with a BAFTA nomination for Most Outstanding British film, Ali and Ava is a worthy follow-up to Barnard’s The Arbor, The Selfish Giant and Dark River.

CINEMA SCREENINGS

(JHB) Ster Kinekor - The Zone / Sun 23 - 17.00 / R80
(CPT) Labia Theatre / Sun 23 - 18.00 / R70

REVIEWS

An understated triumph.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian Film

A heart-warming film about seizing that second chance in life and not letting go.
David Stratton, The Australian

Seeing both characters find their ways through their pain and loneliness to be true to each other and themselves is what makes Ali & Ava such a rich, warm and rewarding cinema experience.
Thomas Caldwell, ABC Radio Melbourne

Potent, perceptive, dripping with empathy and as emotionally raw as films come.
Sarah Ward, Concrete Playground

Beautiful, unpredictable and crammed with humour.
Charlotte O’Sullivan, London Evening Standard