SummarySet in contemporary London, Lilting tells the story of a Cambodian-Chinese mother mourning the untimely death of her son. Her world is suddenly disrupted by the presence of a stranger. Though they don’t share a common language, a translator helps piece together the memories of a man they both loved. [Strand Releasing]
Directed By:Hong Khaou
Written By:Hong Khaou
Lilting
Metascore
Generally Favorable
61
User score
Generally Favorable
6.3
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
55% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
45% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Aug 24, 2014
80
Lilting looks set to linger on in the memory of those who seek it out for weeks, months and perhaps even years to come.
Oct 2, 2014
70
Teasing out the vagaries of language, how confusing communication can be, is such a good idea. Despite a strong start, the filmmaker doesn't exactly know where to go with it. Still, there are moments before things get away from him that are captivating to watch and lovely to listen to.
Sep 26, 2014
63
Lilting suffers from a lack of plausibility in its central situation and elsewhere.
Aug 24, 2014
60
The film is awfully methodical, almost mathematical, in working through the various emotional steps every character must take in reaching an end point we readily guess. You appreciate the effort, even as you sense it.
Sep 25, 2014
50
For much of the movie, Junn is a one-dimensional grump who pulls this schematic if unfocused movie down with each frown and harrumph.
Sep 21, 2014
50
Lilting doesn't have any momentum or any sense of ambiguity, once the setup has been established.
User score
Generally Favorable
53% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
40% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
7% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Nov 4, 2014
7
The debut film from Cambodian director Hong Khaou, which is indeed a UK production, pairs the outed actor Ben Whishaw with Chinese actress Pei-Pei Cheng, who is the Kungfu heroine in her prime and has launched a strong comeback in Ang Lee’s masterful CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000, 10/10) as the villainous Jade Fox. And the story is rather plain-speaking, Whishaw is Richard, a young gay man loses his boyfriend Kai (Leung) in a car accident, and he has to take care of Kai’s mother Junn (Pei-Pei), who has been put in an elderly house since Kai never comes out to her. continue reading my review on my blog: google cinema omnivore, thanks
Sep 26, 2014
4
Lilting is slow to the point of almost stopping. Here we have yet another film purporting to be full of the meaning of life and love whilst nearly sending its audience to sleep. The story structure is uneven, and it is only really due to the performance of Ben Whishaw that the film manages to survive at all. He is usually good, sometimes brilliant, and here what emotion there is he elicits effortlessly in two or three beautiful moments. Peter Bowles is employed to provide an accommodating audience with some easy laughs, which are actually very resistible. However, one dinner scene is quite funny. The ending is a damp squib as it tells us absolutely nothing about where the characters are going.
Production Company:
- London Film Productions
- Lilting Production
- Microwave
- BBC Film
- Stink Films
- SUMS Film and Media
- Dominic Buchanan Productions
Release Date:Sep 26, 2014
Duration:1 h 31 m
Website:
Awards
British Independent Film Awards
• 3 Nominations
Queer Lisboa - Festival Internacional de Cinema Queer
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
