Ali and Ava

There’s what used to be (and may still be) termed a ‘kitchen sink’ element about Ava and Ali. It has several of the ingredients, being set in the north of England, very working class, highlighting grinding social issues. Sometimes considered derogatory these low budget programmers cast a light on some aspects of post war Britain that would otherwise not have got attention and are now important records.

This follows in that tradition set in Bradford looking at two communities, individuals and their families. The setup is fairly simple with Ali (Adeel Akhtar) a landlord befriending Ava (Claire Rushbrook) a classroom assistant after he gives her a lift home during the school run that Ali does as a favour for one of his tenants. He’s that sort of guy.

Gradually a friendship develops which as it gets more serious begins to affect their families both of which are borderline dysfunctional. As seen by Ava’s son Callum (Shaun Thomas) reaction to Ali when he finds him in the house. Similarly, Ali’s complicated domestic situation with him living with his estranged wife Runa (Ellora Torchia) and their family.

Both are to some extent prisoners of their community and cultures. They do however rise above that. One way is through music. While they have massively different tastes it’s actually an attraction with them curious to know more about the other, and be introduced to something new. From there they find they have more in common than not.

Rushbrook and Akhtar are the fulcrum of the film and are terrific; with natural performances and some beautiful exchanges though as these things go there’s not much of surprise about how things develop.

The greater insight from writer and director Clio Barnard is on the effects on those around them, their reactions and crucially why they act the way they do. Some hold prejudices or abide to cultures that could be seen as increasingly at odds with those who don’t want to break away but not be constricted either. Others are bad experiences and trauma that has tainted their view of the world.