Lilting (film)
Lilting | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Hong Khaou |
Produced by | Dominic Buchanan |
Written by | Hong Khaou |
Starring |
Ben Whishaw Cheng Pei-pei Andrew Leung Morven Christie Naomi Christie Peter Bowles |
Music by | Stuart Earl |
Cinematography | Urszula Pontikos |
Edited by | Mark Towns |
Production company | |
Distributed by |
Artificial Eye Strand Releasing |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £120,000 |
Box office | $197,588[1] |
Lilting is a 2014 British drama film written and directed by Cambodian-born British director Hong Khaou, whose short film, Spring, was selected for Sundance and Berlinale film festival 2011.[2] It is produced by Dominic Buchanan, whose debut film Gimme The Loot had its World Premiere at SXSW in March 2012 and went on to win the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature.[3]
The film had its world premiere on 16 January 2014, on Day One of the Sundance Film Festival, at which it competed in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.[4] It won the Cinematography Award: World Cinema Dramatic at the festival.[5][6] The film had a theatrical release in UK on 8 August 2014[7][8] and released on September 26, 2014 in United States.[9]
Plot
Lilting tells the story of a mother’s attempt at understanding who her son was after his untimely death. Her world is suddenly disrupted by the presence of his lover. Together, they attempt to overcome their grief whilst struggling against not having a shared language.[10]
Cast
- Ben Whishaw as Richard
- Andrew Leung as Kai
- Cheng Pei-pei as Junn
- Morven Christie as Margaret
- Naomi Christie as Vann
- Peter Bowles as Alan
Production
The script, original titled Lilting the Past, won third spot in the 2011 Brit List, a list of the best unproduced British screenplays.[11]
The film was one of three films greenlit by Microwave in early 2012.[12][13] A casting call was later released for the three of the lead roles,[14] later filled by Cheng Pei-pei and Andrew Leung.
Filming began in November 2012 [15] and completed principal photography in December 2012.[16] Director Khaou has said the film will be visually inspired by Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love.[17]
During production, as part of the Microwave scheme, Michael Winterbottom mentored writer/director Khaou, while producer Buchanan was mentored by Ken Marshall, producer of London to Brighton, Filth and Song for Marion. As with all Microwave films, the budget was £120,000.[18] It is the first bilingual film to be made under the Microwave scheme.[19]
Reception
Critical response
Lilting was met with positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 81% of 47 film critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 6.9 out of 10. The Sites consensus said:"Skillfully weaving multiple delicate tonal strands into a quietly affecting whole, Lilting serves as a thoroughly compelling calling card for writer-director Hong Khaou."[20] On Metacritic the film has 61 rating from 23 reviews.
Justin Chang, in his review for Variety, said that the film "Hong Khaou makes a fine debut with this quietly resonant cross-cultural chamber piece."[21] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, saying, "Delicate and unhurried almost to a fault, though also hauntingly sexy and even humorous at times."[22] Amber Wilkinson from Telegraph gave the film three out of five stars and praised the lead actor that "Whishaw is magnetic as a man pushed to the edge of fragility by mourning, but who still suggests a quiet strength."[23] Dominic Mill of We Got This Covered gave a positive review and said, "The subject matter is powerful, and the performances are wonderful – in a world of big and showy dramatism, Lilting gets its point across without feeling the need to shout about it."[24]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Sundance Film Festival | World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic | Hong Khaou | Nominated |
Cinematography Award: World Cinema Dramatic | Urszula Pontikos | Won | ||
2015 | 26th GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Film - Limited Release | Hong Khaou | Won |
References
- ↑ "Lilting (2014) – International Box Office Results – Box Office Mojo".
- ↑ "Microwave – Get Inspired – Lilting – Cast and Crew – Crew – Writer/Director – Hong Khaou".
- ↑ "Microwave – Get Inspired – Lilting – Cast and Crew – Crew – Producer – Dominic Buchanan".
- ↑ "Sundance Institute Announces Films in U.S. and World Competitions, NEXT for 2014 Sundance Film Festival – Sundance Film Festival".
- ↑ "Sundance: ‘Whiplash’ & ‘Rich Hill’ Win Grand Jury Awards; Dramatic Directing Goes To Cutter Hodierne For ‘Fishing Without Nets’". Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ↑ "'Whiplash' Owns the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Awards Netting Two Top Prizes". Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ↑ "Lilting UK release date". Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Lilting BBC UK". Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Lilting". Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Tony Grisoni's Kingsland amongst new Microwave projects".
- ↑ "‘Call Up’ tops Brit List". Variety.
- ↑ "Microwave heats up three pics". Variety.
- ↑ "Hong Khaou's LILTING announced among new Microwave projects – United Agents".
- ↑ http://www.chinatownartsspace.com/files/casting_for_lilting.pdf
- ↑ http://filmlondon.org.uk/news/2012/may/three_new_films_for_microwave
- ↑ http://filmlondon.org.uk/news/2014/january/lilting_premieres_to_critical_acclaim
- ↑ "Microwave – Get Inspired – Lilting – Directors Vision".
- ↑ "Microwave’s Lilting, starring Ben Whishaw, underway in London".
- ↑ "Ben Whishaw goes from Skyfall Q to budget film". The Evening Standard.
- ↑ "Lilting (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Sundance Film Review: ‘Lilting’". Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Lilting: Sundance Review". Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Sundance 2014: Lilting, review". Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Lilting Review [LLGBT 2014]". Retrieved January 19, 2014.
External links
- Lilting at the Internet Movie Database
- Lilting at AllMovie
- Lilting at Box Office Mojo
- Lilting at Metacritic
- Lilting at Rotten Tomatoes