Lilting (film)

For the soft drink, see Lilt. For the song form, see Lilting.
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 26 September 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

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

Lilting won the Cinematography Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

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

  1. ↑ "Lilting (2014) – International Box Office Results – Box Office Mojo".
  2. ↑ "Microwave – Get Inspired – Lilting – Cast and Crew – Crew – Writer/Director – Hong Khaou".
  3. ↑ "Microwave – Get Inspired – Lilting – Cast and Crew – Crew – Producer – Dominic Buchanan".
  4. ↑ "Sundance Institute Announces Films in U.S. and World Competitions, NEXT for 2014 Sundance Film Festival – Sundance Film Festival".
  5. ↑ "Sundance: 'Whiplash' & 'Rich Hill' Win Grand Jury Awards; Dramatic Directing Goes To Cutter Hodierne For 'Fishing Without Nets'". Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "'Whiplash' Owns the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Awards Netting Two Top Prizes". Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Lilting UK release date". Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Lilting BBC UK". Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Lilting". Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "Tony Grisoni's Kingsland amongst new Microwave projects".
  11. ↑ "'Call Up' tops Brit List". Variety.
  12. ↑ "Microwave heats up three pics". Variety.
  13. ↑ "Hong Khaou's LILTING announced among new Microwave projects – United Agents".
  14. ↑ http://www.chinatownartsspace.com/files/casting_for_lilting.pdf
  15. ↑ http://filmlondon.org.uk/news/2012/may/three_new_films_for_microwave
  16. ↑ http://filmlondon.org.uk/news/2014/january/lilting_premieres_to_critical_acclaim
  17. ↑ "Microwave – Get Inspired – Lilting – Directors Vision".
  18. ↑ "Microwave's Lilting, starring Ben Whishaw, underway in London".
  19. ↑ "Ben Whishaw goes from Skyfall Q to budget film". The Evening Standard.
  20. ↑ "Lilting (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  21. ↑ "Sundance Film Review: 'Lilting'". Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "Lilting: Sundance Review". Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  23. ↑ "Sundance 2014: Lilting, review". Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Lilting Review [LLGBT 2014]". Retrieved 19 January 2014.

External links

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