--- title: "Ali & Ava: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/ali-and-ava/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/ali-and-ava" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 20 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): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 20 reviews: 16 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. 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. ## IndieWire — Jude Dry Rating A-. 15 September 2021. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/ali-ava-review-clio-barnard-1234664848/) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 3.5/4. 11 September 2021. 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 the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/ali-and-ava-review-clio-barnard/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 August 2022. 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 the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-08-04/ali-and-ava-review-clio-barnard) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2021. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ali-ava-serenades-bradfordian-sweethearts-clio-barnard) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 March 2022. 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 the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/06/ali-ava-review-clio-barnard-bradford-love-story-adeel-akhtar-claire-rushbrook) ## Empire — Beth Webb Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 1 March 2022. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ali-and-ava/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 4/5. 4 March 2022. 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 the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/ali-and-ava-movie-review-clio-barnard-adeel-akhtar-b985623.html) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. 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 the review](https://lwlies.com/festivals/ali-ava-first-look-review) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 2022. 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 the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/ali-ava-review-adeel-akhtar-claire-rushbrook-clio-barnard-1497138) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2021. Festival review. 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 the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/ali-and-ava-review-1235094587/) ## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2021. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/ali-and-ava-cannes-review/5161480.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 September 2021. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/ali-ava-review-toronto-2021-1235019479/) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2022. The available page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also provides no verifiable praise or complaint to summarize. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/28/movies/ali-ava-review.html) ## Collider — Emily Bernard Rating A-. 28 July 2022. 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 the review](https://collider.com/ali-and-ava-review-clio-barnard/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/ali-ava-review/) ## Deadline — Anna Smith Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2021. Festival review. 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 the review](https://deadline.com/2021/07/cannes-film-review-ali-and-ava-clio-barnard-directors-fortnight-1234790320/) ## The Skinny — Eleanor Capaldi Rating ★★★★. 28 February 2022. 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 the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/ali-ava) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2021. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.thewrap.com/ali-ava-review-cannes-clio-barnard/) ## Paste — Chloe Walker Rating 7.3/10. 21 July 2022. 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 the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/clio-barnard/ali-and-ava-review) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2021. Festival review. 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 the review](https://theplaylist.net/ali-ava-clio-barnards-unlikely-romance-strikes-a-sweet-chord-cannes-review-20210713/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/ali-and-ava.md