Love Without Walls written and directed by Jane Gull, and produced by Hidden Door Productions is a drama romance about an artistic couple, a musician and a photographer, who find themselves homeless following the effects of the pandemic.
I must begin by saying that as a highly empathetic person, I found it difficult to watch this film. It was brutally true to what has been happening around us since the pandemic with lots of people within the creative industries struggling to keep their jobs and thousands of households made homeless. While the strength of the love between Sophie and Paul gave a touch of hope to the story, the struggles the couple had to face are not only a constant blow after blow to them but the audience. While it was an excellent representation of the things happening on the streets, I would have appreciated some more breathers. Lack of these moments to breathe and take in what is happening made the film feel too long at times.
There are some very well-thought details that I highly appreciated. One such detail is a mural for key workers, who had no choice but to work overtime during the pandemic, in front of which Paul, who struggles to get a job, performs on the street. That one small and calm moment in the film may have been the most impactful one for me. The most important messages of this movie are all conveyed through these small details. The mural, the closing of one of the venues Paul was supposed to perform, the cashless system at the bar and many more things which quickly became a regular part of life, are presented with the hardships they came with for a certain demographic.
The scenes with Sophie’s grandmother, portrayed by Sheila Reid, are refreshing due to the humorous nature of the character. However, her scenes are quite limited and I would have liked to see more of her and the relationship between her, her granddaughter and her grandson-in-law.
Shana Swash and Niall McNamee’s performances as the two main characters are also very realistic which is an important factor in connecting the audience to the story. Niall McNamee also wrote original music for the film and performed them, which was the best part of the film. I was happy to learn that the soundtrack is available on streaming platforms.
It was shocking to learn that this film was inspired by Jane Gull’s own experiences, as well as those around her and that it was an attempt to ‘find brightness in the darkest places.’ This was one of the most popular films at the London Independent Film Festival. It sold out and was carried to a bigger screen. The high demand for this film must feel like a tremendous accomplishment for her.
If you’re interested in this film, you’ll be happy to hear that, unlike many of the films at LIFF, Love Without Walls is coming to the cinemas on June 9.
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