---
title: "Ali & Ava"
year: 2022
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/ali-and-ava"
fi1m_id: "ali-and-ava"
imdb_id: "tt11559472"
tmdb_id: 661365
wikidata_id: "Q107324072"
fi1m_score: 82
critics_score: 79
critics_reviews: 20
published: "2026-10-03T01:54:22.671249+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T01:54:23.107833+00:00"
region: "SA"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ali & Ava (2022)

Directed by Clio Barnard · 1h 35m · Drama, Romance

## Identity

Ali & Ava

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/ali-and-ava
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** ali-and-ava
- **IMDb ID:** tt11559472
- **TMDB ID:** 661365
- **Wikidata ID:** Q107324072
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11559472/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/661365, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107324072

**Fi1m score: 82** · Critics 79 from 20 reviews

*In a sentence:* Two lonely adults let each other choose the music; the relatives are harder to accommodate

> Clio Barnard’s romance is warm without pretending that affection makes family life simple. Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook make it worth an evening, even when the writing tidies away complications too readily.

## Synopsis

Ali (Adeel Akhtar) and Ava (Claire Rushbrook) begin to grow close through music. Both are lonely, but neither comes to the relationship without family ties and complications. Ali wants to get to know Ava, and their different lives give them things to discover as well as obstacles to face. Runa (Ellora Torchia) and Callum (Shaun Thomas) are among the people around them as the possibility of a romance emerges. Getting to know each other means finding room for another person amid relationships and responsibilities that are already there.

## Review

Clio Barnard’s *Ali & Ava* is a warmly persuasive romance whose leads are more convincing than some of its plotting. It takes the possibility of companionship seriously, including the awkward business of bringing someone new into a life that already contains other people and their expectations. We recommend it for Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook, who make attraction feel like something happening between two particular adults. The writing is less sure when it tries to make the people around them matter equally.

The pleasure in Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook’s performances is how little they need to insist on the attraction. They give loneliness its weight without making it the only thing either person can express, and the humour prevents the tentative romance from becoming solemn. We were moved by their shared enjoyment of music, because it makes getting to know someone look pleasurable before it becomes complicated. Their ease together is persuasive enough that we want more time with them than the surrounding plot always allows.

Music gives these two a practical way to spend time together without having to account for their feelings at every turn. Harry Escott’s music contributes to the film’s gentleness, but the sharing of songs does the clearest dramatic work: listening becomes something each can do for the other. The soundtrack also permits pleasure for its own sake, a welcome quality in a drama with family difficulties to accommodate. These people have something to enjoy together before they have much to explain.

Ole Birkeland’s intimate cinematography lets us watch the actors closely without losing the sense of life around them. Stéphane Collonge’s production design helps the surroundings feel like places where people already live, with room for lives beyond the central couple. That ordinary bustle matters to the warmth of the film. Clio Barnard makes a new relationship feel like one event among many, with demands on both leads that do not stop when they meet.

Maya Maffioli’s editing is particularly useful when the film moves between humour and more difficult feelings. Those changes do not announce that we should stop laughing and pay attention; they grow out of people whose troubles have not removed their capacity for fun. The slightly offbeat cutting also keeps the gentler passages from becoming too comfortable. For a film running 95 minutes, it finds room to linger over companionship without making every exchange serve an obvious purpose.

The weakness is in how unevenly that attention is distributed. Ali’s family and community feel less developed than Ava’s, and that imbalance leaves us with a poorer understanding of the people around him. Clio Barnard’s screenplay also makes some complications too easy to put in order, which is a problem when the performances have persuaded us to expect less convenient behaviour. The romance survives this, but some supporting characters seem to have been brought in chiefly to delay it.

The warmth is particularly welcome in a social-realist romance about working-class lives, where happiness can too easily seem like an oversight. Here the humour belongs to people who have troubles and still find each other funny, without asking us to congratulate them for carrying on. The actors are given time to make that pleasure believable. Watch it for the couple, and allow a little patience for the relatives.

*Fi1m score 82, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics welcome Ali & Ava as a warm, tender romance that acknowledges hardship without letting it overwhelm the relationship. Praise centres on Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook, whose natural performances and believable chemistry make the growing attachment persuasive. The reviews also value the music as a way for the characters to understand each other. Clio Barnard’s humane direction and the lively sense of Bradford draw repeated approval.

Reservations concern how much story surrounds the couple, and how fully it is developed. The Hollywood Reporter finds the drama slight despite the warmth, while Paste sees a messy, overstuffed romance that remains emotionally honest. IndieWire notes that Ali’s family and community receive less attention than Ava’s; the Evening Standard finds some late developments too neat. The spread runs from enthusiastic to qualified rather than hostile, with even the more reserved assessments finding value in the performances.

## Straight answers

**Is Ali & Ava worth watching?**

*Ali & Ava* is worth watching for its persuasive adult romance and Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook’s performances; we score it 82. We recommend it to anyone drawn to companionship, humour and shared music, with the caveat that the writing tidies away some family complications too readily.

**How long is Ali & Ava, and what is it rated?**

*Ali & Ava* runs 1h 35m. It is a drama and romance film.

**Where can I watch Ali & Ava in Saudi Arabia?**

*Ali & Ava* is not on any streaming or rental service in Saudi Arabia at the moment. It is available in 14 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Ali & Ava, and is it suitable for children?**

*Ali & Ava* has a UK 15 certificate, so it is not suitable for children under 15. The certificate indicates material suited to older teenagers and adults, but we cannot give a specific warning about violence or frightening scenes from the details available; the romance’s warmth should not be taken as a younger-child suitability guide.

**How does Ali & Ava compare to The Lunchbox?**

*Ali & Ava* is our warmer, more affecting choice beside [*The Lunchbox*](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox), though both find romance in ordinary exchanges between lonely people. We favour *Ali & Ava* for its humour and shared music, despite some convenient plotting; *The Lunchbox* suits those who prefer restraint, although its careful handling can feel overcautious.

**What should I watch after Ali & Ava?**

After *Ali & Ava*, try [*The Lunchbox*](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox) (2013, Fi1m 75): A patient romance where ordinary exchanges give lonely people reasons to try again. Then [*Rye Lane*](https://film.one/film/rye-lane) (2023, Fi1m 78): Music, neighbourhood life and bruised feelings feed a much more boisterous British courtship.

### Reviews we read (20)

- **IndieWire**, Jude Dry (A-): Dry finds the romance poignant and charming, praising the leads’ engaging performances and the film’s hopeful portrayal of unexpected connection. The review notes that Ali’s family and community are less fully developed than Ava’s. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/ali-ava-review-clio-barnard-1234664848/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Jake Cole (3.5/4): Cole finds the film a richly observed, emotionally complex story that avoids the misery of conventional social realism. He particularly praises Claire Rushbrook’s expressive performance and Barnard’s vivid visual and sonic flourishes. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/ali-and-ava-review-clio-barnard/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (85/100, inferred): Chang finds the film a charming, open-hearted love story that makes hardship feel less bleak. He especially praises the superbly paired performances of Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-08-04/ali-and-ava-review-clio-barnard)
- **Sight and Sound**, BFI (85/100, inferred): The critic calls it Barnard’s most accomplished film since The Arbor and praises its generous, naturalistic approach to romance. They single out Bradford’s lively multicultural setting and the way it remains integral to the couple’s story. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ali-ava-serenades-bradfordian-sweethearts-clio-barnard)
- **The Guardian**, Mark Kermode (85/100, inferred): Kermode finds the romance unexpectedly warm, tender and compelling. He singles out the lead performances and the film’s naturalistic shifts in tone for praise. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/06/ali-ava-review-clio-barnard-bradford-love-story-adeel-akhtar-claire-rushbrook)
- **Empire**, Beth Webb (82/100, inferred): Webb finds the film a charming, assured romance that balances social realism with hope. She especially praises Claire Rushbrook and Adeel Akhtar’s effortless chemistry and the music woven into their relationship. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ali-and-ava/)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (4/5): O’Sullivan finds the romance beautiful, unpredictable and carried by irresistible characters, though some late developments feel too neat. She particularly praises the joyful soundtrack and Barnard’s textured, quirky editing. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/ali-and-ava-movie-review-clio-barnard-adeel-akhtar-b985623.html)
- **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the film tender, joyful and among Clio Barnard’s best, despite a few misfires. They single out the lived-in lead performances and the film’s deft balance of humor and darker realities. [Read](https://lwlies.com/festivals/ali-ava-first-look-review)
- **The i Paper**, Christina Newland (80/100, inferred): Newland finds the film a poignant, tender romance that balances sweetness with the complications of family life. She particularly praises Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook’s naturalistic performances and the believable rapport between their characters. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/ali-ava-review-adeel-akhtar-claire-rushbrook-clio-barnard-1497138)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (80/100, inferred): Debruge finds the film a lovely, tender account of two lonely people growing closer across their differences. He praises the way music brings them together and helps them understand one another. [Read](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/ali-and-ava-review-1235094587/)
- **Screen Daily**, Fionnuala Halligan (65/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a Cannes review, but its verdict is not visible. The accessible text does not reveal what the critic praised or criticised. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/ali-and-ava-cannes-review/5161480.article)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Leslie Felperin (65/100, inferred): Felperin finds the film a warm, hopeful romance but a dramatically slight one. She singles out Akhtar and Rushbrook’s performances and the intimate cinematography for praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/ali-ava-review-toronto-2021-1235019479/)
- **The New York Times** (65/100, inferred): The available page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also provides no verifiable praise or complaint to summarize. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/28/movies/ali-ava-review.html)
- **Collider**, Emily Bernard (A-): Bernard finds the film consistently enjoyable and compelling, with a heartfelt portrayal of two lonely adults connecting. She especially praises Akhtar and Rushbrook’s natural chemistry and nuanced performances. [Read](https://collider.com/ali-and-ava-review-clio-barnard/)
- **HeyUGuys** (90/100, inferred): The critic calls it an exquisitely told love story, praising its empathetic portrayal of two lonely people. They single out the excellent performances by Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook, alongside Clio Barnard’s direction. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/ali-ava-review/)
- **Deadline**, Anna Smith (85/100, inferred): Smith calls the film a charmer and Barnard’s most accessible, hopeful work to date. She particularly praises the leads’ chemistry and the film’s vivid, humane portrayal of working-class community. [Read](https://deadline.com/2021/07/cannes-film-review-ali-and-ava-clio-barnard-directors-fortnight-1234790320/)
- **The Skinny**, Eleanor Capaldi (★★★★): Capaldi finds the romance exquisitely calibrated and tender. She singles out how the characters’ shared music deepens their connection and reflects their growing intimacy. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/ali-ava)
- **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the romance gently charming and praises Barnard’s careful, empathetic storytelling. Claire Rushbrook’s warm performance as Ava is singled out as a particular pleasure. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/ali-ava-review-cannes-clio-barnard/)
- **Paste**, Chloe Walker (7.3/10): Walker finds the romance messy and overstuffed, but emotionally honest and warmly appealing. She praises the gentle performances and the vivid, lovingly drawn sense of Bradford and its people. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/clio-barnard/ali-and-ava-review)
- **The Playlist** (65/100, inferred): The page's URL identifies this as a Cannes review, but the article text is unavailable. Its verdict and specific praise or criticism therefore cannot be verified. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/ali-ava-clio-barnards-unlikely-romance-strikes-a-sweet-chord-cannes-review-20210713/)

## Details

- **Director:** Clio Barnard
- **Director:** Clio Barnard
- **Writer:** Clio Barnard
- **Cinematography:** Ole Birkeland
- **Editor:** Maya Maffioli
- **Music:** Harry Escott
- **Production design:** Stéphane Collonge
- **Costume design:** Sophie O'Neill
- **Producer:** Tracy O'Riordan
- **Cast:** Adeel Akhtar as Ali; Claire Rushbrook as Ava; Natalie Gavin as Dawn; Macy Shackleton as Venice; Ellora Torchia as Runa; Shaun Thomas as Callum; Mona Goodwin as Michelle; Krupa Pattani as Usma
- **Runtime:** 1h 35m
- **First release (France):** 11 July 2021
- **Genres:** Drama, Romance
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1l6lg8Au_M

## Where to watch in Saudi Arabia

Not streaming, renting or buying in Saudi Arabia at the last check.

Also available in: AU, BE, CA, DK, ES, FR, GB, IE, IT, NL, NO, NZ, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Marty* (1955): Another adult courtship made difficult by relatives with firm opinions about happiness.
- *The Lunchbox* (2013), Fi1m 75: A patient romance where ordinary exchanges give lonely people reasons to try again. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox.md)
- *Rye Lane* (2023), Fi1m 78: Music, neighbourhood life and bruised feelings feed a much more boisterous British courtship. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/rye-lane.md)
- *Gloria* (2013): For another woman whose appetite for companionship survives the complications of adult life.
- *The Band's Visit* (2007): Shared music and awkward hospitality make room for warmth between people passing through.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/ali-and-ava