LastattheFestivalwith2017’sruralnoirDarkRiver,aselectioninthePlatformprogramme,writer-directorClioBarnardreturnstotheBradford,WestYorkshiresettingofherearlierfilmsforthistumultuous,fiercelyaffectingmidlifelovestory. Abundleofgoodhumourandnervousenergy,Ali(AdeelAkhtar)isaBritishPakistaniworking-classlandlordwhoforgesclosebondswithhistenants.Oneday,whilepickinguponeofhistenants’childrenfromschool,heoffersalifttoAva(ClaireRushbrook),anIrish-bornteacherandsinglemotheroffive.Theybondalmostinstantlythroughtheirloveofmusic,thoughAlifavoursthehighenergyofBuzzcocksandhip-hopwhileAvatakesrefugeinthequietercomfortsofBobDylanandKarenDalton.Despitetheirdivergentbackgrounds,differencesintheirstagesoflife,andthecolouroftheirskin,despitethefactofAli’sfailingmarriageandAva’sfraughtrelationshipwithheradultandadolescentchildren,eachfindsthemselfirresistiblydrawntotheother.Butcantheirmutualdesiretranscendabarrageofpersonalobstacles? InspiredbypeopleBarnardencounteredwhilemakingheracclaimedfeaturesTheArborandTheSelfishGiant,Ali&Avaisafilmthatfeelsprofoundlyrootedinlivedexperience,blendingatenderemotionalcomplexitywithanattimesbracingdepictionoftraumaandgrief.AkhtarandRushbrook’sfinelyhuedperformancesspeaktothesetting’sculturaldiversityandtriballoyaltieswhileyieldingavulnerabilitythat’salternatelyheart-wrenchingandjoyous.Theirstoryservesasareminderthatitissometimestheleastlikelyconnectionsthataretheonesmostworthpursuing.