Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Thereâs something about the Rom-Com genre that the Brits do so well. They brought us Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral and the unforgettable Bridget Jones Trilogy. Now they bring us the delightful, enchanting and hilarious Rye Lane. A guaranteed smash-hit Romantic Comedy for the ages, just having raised the curtain at the 2023 TIFF Next Wave Film Festival.
It follows 20-somethings Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah) who are both reeling from bad breakups. They meet at a friendâs art showing when Yas overhears Dom sobbing in the neighbouring bathroom stall. He explains the cause of his agony â his girlfriend of 6-years cheated on him with his best friend. Yas shares she just got out of a damaged relationship herself. United over their recent heartbreaks, they spend the rest of the day walking around South London discovering more about each other and themselves.
Rye Lane is for Peckham (and Brixton) what Notting Hill was forâŚwell Notting Hill. First-time Feature Director Raine Allen-Miller vividly captures the essence of South London through her unique, stylish vision. She utilizes the fish-eye lens to make Peckham and Brixton a character. The vibrant colours of Peckham and Brixton mirror the vibrancy of South Londoners. Allen-Miller captures a city park, local market and quiet suburban street like itâs the only place to be. The love and care sheâs shown will make the South the newest London hotspot.
This passion for Peckham and Brixton first originates on the page. Screenwriters Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia have included quintessential British humour and written sharp, inside joke scenes â like what itâs like to take a London Night Bus. This doesnât mean the audience wonât be in on the joke. Bryon and Melia have meticulously written these fun insider scenes with enough background to make them land, regardless of where you come from. Theyâve even managed to include a scene that has a priceless cameo everyone will be hysterical over.
Rye Laneâs comedy often comes from its charactersâ emotional pain. The writers and Allen-Miller work together to balance the two. They make it seamless and know that the Comedy comes from the audience’s experience with heartbreak. Anyone whoâs had their heart-broken will understand the rawness that follows. In achieving this, theyâve managed to reinvent the genre. For instance, the meet-cute in Rye Lane isnât so cute. The characters first meet in a dirty public bathroom while one urinates and the other sobs.
Audiences will fall for the endearing Dom and Yas who are deep in their feelings, particularly Dom. Jonsson delves into the agony Dom feels and makes it Comedy Gold. Yas complements Dom by being more emotionally restrained. Oparah is a force on screen and adds mystery to the direct Yas. Their palpable chemistry is the cherry on top of the bewitching Rye Lane.
Searchlight Pictures releases RYE LANEÂ on Disney+ Friday, March 31, 2023.
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