‘I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning’ Review: Clio Barnard’s Compelling Portrait of Working-Class Love and Disappointment
Clio Barnard's film 'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning' explores the lives of five working-class friends from Birmingham as they navigate love and disappointment. The film, adapted from Keiran Goddard's novel by Enda Walsh, showcases strong performances from a talented ensemble cast. Barnard's approach to filmmaking emphasizes collaboration with local communities, enhancing the authenticity of the characters' experiences.
- ▪The film features five friends who grew up together on a council estate in Birmingham.
- ▪Conor, one of the main characters, struggles with self-destructive tendencies while expecting a baby.
- ▪Rian, another character, has achieved financial success but feels isolated in his wealth.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Some films herald the scope of their ambitions from the opening frame, whereas others start humbly with a mastery that slowly comes to the fore. It’s hard to identify when the emotional circuit board underlying “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning” switches on and a low-key multi-character yarn coheres into a humanist light show, only that after that certain point it achieves the enduring power of a folk ballad. This is an ensemble character drama both behind and in front of the camera. Screenwriter Enda Walsh (“Hunger”, “Small Things Like These”, “Die, My Love”) has loyally adapted Keiran Goddard’s 2014 source novel, and director Clio Barnard elicits potent performances from her quintet of rising Irish and English stars.
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