Ali & Ava

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2:13

Ali & Ava

2022

1h 34m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

90 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Both lonely for different reasons, ALI and AVA meet through their shared affection for SOFIA (6), the child of ALI's Slovakian tenants, whom AVA teaches. ALI finds comfort in AVA's warmth and kindness and AVA finds ALI's complexity and humor irresistible. Over a lunar month, sparks fly and a deep connection begins to grow. However, the legacy of AVA's past relationship and ALI's emotional turmoil at the breakdown of his marriage begins to overshadow their newfound passion.

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Critics Consensus

Ali & Ava's tender, naturalistic love story adds another powerful chapter to writer-director Clio Barnard's filmography.

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Sophie Monks Kaufman

Sight & Sound

May 14, 2026

Barnard presents a type of romance that involves not escape from one’s problems but acceptance of another’s.

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Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

Sep 19, 2024

4/5

In Clio Barnard's realist Bradford-set drama, love between a Bengali-British property owner and an older classroom assistant is complicated, but powerful.

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Justin Chang

Los Angeles Times

Aug 4, 2022

Barnard has made an ode to the beauty of messy, imperfect lives and their ability to converge at improbably perfect moments. Maybe it ends a beat too soon, but then so do some of your favorite songs.

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William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 18, 2024

3.5/5

Ali & Ava might feel thematically slight, but this comforting drama warms the heart and soul with its central romantic relationship.

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Morgan Rojas

Cinemacy

Jan 28, 2023

3/5

This middle-aged love story gives a fresh perspective on loneliness.

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Gisela Savdie

Letra Urbana

Oct 6, 2022

B+

The film manages to convey the state of loneliness of the characters, without falling into melodrama, while we feel how the pain penetrates our skin. [Full review in Spanish]

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Mr. Hollywood

Aug 17, 2022

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Nothing new here but a familiar watch that is worth the time. And I discovered the song Slave to the Radio which made the movie for me.

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mimi

Aug 11, 2022

Boring, drawn out, silly British movie!

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RZ

Aug 7, 2022

Nice, enjoyable RomCom.

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Henry D

@Henry_Domke Jul 23, 2026

We watched for about 30 minutes and then bailed. The biggest problem was the large amount of music, nearly all of which we strongly disliked. We also found the bleak portrayal of working-class immigrant life in Britain unappealing. Adeel Akhtar had some charm, but no one else engaged us, including Claire Rushbrook as the other lead.

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Kate D

@RT24430656 Jul 6, 2025

A love story. A story of two lovely people. Two people who are marginalised and different but bound together with compassion. The love for music in each of them lends itself to a gorgeous narrative. Banging beats, folky lilts. Watch the end credits.

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Dave C

@RT09838700 Jan 4, 2025

Telling the tale of lives intertwining at inopportune moments, with the chaos, ugliness, emotions, and pressures we all face whilst this Rock spins on its axis. It is set to the rhythms of two main characters, and their respective lives (jobs, families, friends, expectations, etc). It's a cross-section of how life is, with no frills, no airs and no graces... and it works. It's not new, but then it doesn't need to be for its story to be told

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Ali & Ava: Trailer 1

2:13

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Synopsis

Both lonely for different reasons, ALI and AVA meet through their shared affection for SOFIA (6), the child of ALI's Slovakian tenants, whom AVA teaches. ALI finds comfort in AVA's warmth and kindness and AVA finds ALI's complexity and humor irresistible. Over a lunar month, sparks fly and a deep connection begins to grow. However, the legacy of AVA's past relationship and ALI's emotional turmoil at the breakdown of his marriage begins to overshadow their newfound passion.

Director: Clio Barnard
Producer: Tracy O'Riordan
Screenwriter: Clio Barnard
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: BBC Films, Moonspun Films, BFI Film Fund
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 29, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 23, 2022
Runtime: 1h 34m

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