#TIFF26: “ANCESTORS” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Ancestors is set in 1980s London and follows Beau (Éanna Hardwicke), an Irishman who left his homeland, where homosexuality was still illegal, for London. He spends his days working in a cafe and his nights with his friend Shell (Jessica Reynolds). When Tiny (Jack Wolfe) arrives at the cafe one day, an unlikely bond forms between the two, until Tiny disappears. This leads Beau to embark on a journey to find him.

David Turpin’s feature debut is a haunting journey of a man searching for his friend. As Beau begins his search, the lines between reality and fantasy blur. We watch as he falls into dreams involving Gloria (Christina Hendricks), a glamorous woman who helps guide him. In reality, he begins speaking to Maurice (Rupert Everett), who shows the resilience of the older generation that garnered change for Beau’s. The lines between Beau’s waking and sleeping life often feel blurred. This is perfectly captured through Patrick Jordan’s dreamy cinematography.

Ancestors is a touching story about gay legacy. We are brought into multiple generations to show the achievements made for the community. Having it set in 80s London shows a city at a time that altered the lives of gay men forever. Turpin has delivered a poignant feature that allows its audience to reflect on love and loss. As with any first feature, there are some rough edges (such as some of the edits throughout). But even so, Turpin has delivered a strong debut.

Ancestors screens at TIFF ‘26:

Sat. Sept 12 @ 9:30 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Mon. Sept 14 @ 9:40 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Sun. Sept 20 @ 3:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto