Dom (David Jonsson) has just been dumped and he’s not handling it well. While at the art exhibit of a friend, he runs into Yas (Vivian Oparah). She also just got out of a long term relationship, but as opposed to him, she’s handling it like a champ. The two hit it off and spend the rest of the day together.
Directed by Raine Allen-Miller in a brilliant debut, Rye Lane is the stuff that romantic comedies dream of. I loved learning about Dom and Yas as they peeled back their layers and related to them immensely. Break ups are hard and the way in which they depict what each has done to them was raw and emotional. Though their experiences may seem different on the surface, they have more in common than one may think.
Just as Dom and Yas are our main characters, I have to say that South London itself is a third. The movie is a love letter to the city as we see various areas throughout the course of the film. I really enjoyed this take, reacquainting myself with familiar spots while learning about new ones along the way. Going hand in hand with the cinematography, the environment is filled with a colorful vibrancy that really worked in an authentic way.
Where this movie excels is in its message. In the age of social media, you’d think it’d be easier to connect with people, but in fact, the opposite has proven to be correct. True human connections are harder to come by than ever before and that is why this friendship is so magnetic to watch. With a tight knit script, jokes that actually land and a lot of heart, Rye Lane is a total home run.
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Credits Rolling 