I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, 2026.
Directed by Clio Barnard.
Starring Anthony Boyle, Joe Cole, Daryl McCormack, Jay Lycurgo, Lola Petticrew.
SYNOPSIS:
Five childhood friends face adult struggles: Patrick and Shiv’s relationship strains over a secret, Oli parties destructively, Conor awaits fatherhood with business dreams, and wealthy Rian can’t escape his past despite moving away.
Since her debut feature The Arbour in 2010, Clio Barnard has emerged as a singular voice in contemporary British cinema with films like Ali & Ava, Dark River and her work on the TV series Sherwood and The Essex Serpent. Class divides is often at the heart of her work and her latest film I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, predominantly set in Birmingham deals with five childhood friends navigating life in their early 30s and the trials and tribulations that come with a lack of fulfilment.
Written by Enda Walsh (Small Things Like These, Hunger) I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning is an adaptation of Keiran Goddard’s novel of the same name and feels like an instant classic and the kind of film it feels like the UK doesn’t make any more; there are shades of The Full Monty, Trainspotting or This Is England but it is far from a re-run of British cinema of the past. There is a contemporary feel to the film from its performances to Walsh’s observant script.
This is an ensemble to die for from Anthony Boyle to Joe Cole (never better), Daryl McCormack, Jay Lycurgo and Lola Petticrew. Everyone is fully believable as lifelong friends and the intricacies and dynamics that come with shifting priorities and how friends weave in and out of people’s lives. Even with shared memories and experiences they are at odds about their future and how to tackle the housing crisis in the UK, with several of the group involved in housing at development, are they escaping their past and chasing an impossible dream or genuinely trying to make a meaningful change?
A poignant look at the housing crisis in the UK and how working class life has evolved in the UK in recent years particularly in cities like Birmingham, this is a moving film that captures the ups and downs of youth and the reflection that comes with it. Having the story predominantly set away from London gives exposure to situations other areas face. Despite some heavy themes, the moments of the group hanging out and enjoying themselves feel real and there are a couple of club sequences, full of vivacity and genuine fun that help to distract from some of the bleakness elsewhere. Barnard and Walsh tackle these themes with warmth and compassion.
I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning is further proof of Barnard’s quality as a director and tgus collaboration with Walsh has brought the best out of both. The ensemble cast is one of the finest in recent British cinema and this may well be a film that is looked back on as a recent high point for a style that has seemingly gone out of fashion. The tonal balance, direction and performances truly sing.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Chris Connor
