ALI & AVA 15

Ali and Ava is a heartfelt contemporary love story, filmed and set in Bradford. It has recently been nominated for two BAFTAs, for Outstanding British Film as well as Leading Actor for Adeel Akhtar’s performance as Ali - a Muslim middle aged man, who forms an unlikely romance with Claire Rushbrook’s Ava. The two have very different social, ethnic and educational backgrounds, and the film explores their developing relationship in light of the different pressures both are subject to. Although it does deal with some difficult issues, Ali and Ava is gentle, thoughtful and uplifting. It was written and directed by BAFTA-nominated Clio Barnard (The Arbor, The Selfish Giant).

In his four star Guardian review, Paul Bradshaw wrote: “There’s a tremendous human warmth to this love story from writer-director Clio Barnard, a social-realist tale that you might compare to Ken Loach’s Ae Fond Kiss. It’s a drama of autumnal love conquering the divisions of race, the disillusionments of middle age, the discomfort of parenthood and grandparenthood, and the tensions of class.”

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