A One Mann’s Movies review of “Rye Lane” (2023).
I had the pleasure of seeing the director of “Rye Lane” (Raine Allen-Miller) and female lead (Vivian Oparah) discuss this film at the recent ‘Mark Kermode in 3D’ event at the BFI last week. Allen-Miller described the film as “a boy and a girl wander around South London having a nice day”. And that’s exactly what this delivers in a gloriously quirky and up-beat way.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah) are at a low-spot in their lives after they each have messy break-ups from other people. The pair bond over their “messy lives” during one eventful day in South London.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC: “Very strong language”).
Talent:
Starring: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah, Benjamin Sarpong-Broni, Karene Peter.
Directed by: Raine Allen-Miller.
Written by: Nathan Bryon & Tom Melia.
Twitter Handle: #RyeLaneMovie.
Putting her film-making talent where her mouth is. The director Raine Allen-Miller – a new force to be reckoned with in UK cinema. (Source: Searchlight Pictures).
“Rye Lane” Review:
Positives:
- What a breath of air this movie is! Full of South London flair, it zings along and (at only 88 minutes long) leaves you wanting more. And the colour pallette is simply superb. Just about every scene is drenched in colour, from the clothes to the fast-food shops to the shop-shutters in the arcade. It assaults the eyes in a positive and uplifting way. Raine Allen-Miller has delivered here a “Love Actually” for the modern day. A rom-com without any clichés or dodgy ‘spaz’ jokes, but which is equally delightful and SHOULD build the same devoted following. THIS is the film that should have showcased in cinemas on Valentine’s Day this year, rather than the rather more obvious “What’s Love Got To Do With It?”.
- The script by Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia is smart and sassy, always ready to break you into a hearty laugh through a well-chosen crazy flashback. And it pitches the relationship perfectly between the apparently cock-sure Yas, who has a sensitive and insecure under-belly and the emotionally washed-up Dom, who actually has hidden reserves of grit, as seen during a standout kareoke scene (shades of “Aftersun” there). There are neat little hat-tips to classic rim-coms dropped into the piece as well. It wanders through street-markets like “Notting Hill” and, notably, it steals the dodgy photography exhibition from ‘Love Actually’ – – “It’s NOT funny. It’s ART”.
- And it certainly delivers the “com” element of “rom-com”. I laughed more than a dozen times in this: sometimes from the dialogue; sometimes from the outrageous, in-your-face photography and effects.
- The young leads do a great job. This is David Jonsson’s movie debut (although he is a star of the TV series “Industry”) and only Vivian Oparah’s second feature. Personable and engaging, they both go on my ‘ones-to-watch’ list.
- No spoilers here, but watch out for a very entertaining cameo from a major British star serving up Mexican fast-food. And the stall is called ‘Love Guac’tually’ – LOL!
Negatives:
- I occasionally found the mix of background sound, music and dialogue to be a bit off such that I missed some of the lines. That might just be my dodgy hearing though!
Summary Thoughts on “Rye Lane”
I hardly ever give out more than 4*s. But I think everyone should go and see this film. It’s a glorious feelgood favourite. Lovers of rom-coms will delight in it. But haters of rom-coms will, I think, also suffer it gladly for its infectious and quirky feelgood vibes.
By the way. I do wave at boats. I’ll offer to take other groups photographs for them. And I hold open doors for others. This movie accentuates the positive in life, and so should you. Please go and see it.
[fblike]
Trailer for “Rye Lane”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7doNpDoLn4c .
