Drama Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Drama

Four young people standing on a wooden deck in front of a white building, surrounded by trees.
Review

Afire review – Petzold taps into his inner Rohmer

by Marina Ashioti

Christian Petzold returns with something lighter, funnier and more instantly-lovable than his recent run, bringing regular leading lady Paula Beer along for the ride.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A woman in a purple jumper sitting in front of a blue and green underwater scene with swimming fish.
Review

The Innocent review – pleasantly quirky romantic caper

by Saskia Lloyd Gaiger

A sullen aquarium worker becomes suspicious of his mother’s new husband in Louis Garrel’s pleasingly offbeat familial drama.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two young men sleeping, their arms wrapped around each other, partially covered by a blanket.
Review

Lie with Me review – a spiralling queer portrait of ardent memory

by Emily Maskell

A successful author returns to his hometown, only to unlock memories of a clandestine love affair in Olivier Peyon’s adaptation of Phillippe Besson’s critically-acclaimed autofiction.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people sitting on concrete steps, a man and a woman, wearing casual clothing.
Review

L’Immensità review – infuriating hash of sentimentality

by David Jenkins

Penélope Cruz is in glamorous ​’70s matriarch mode in this patchy Italian family saga which tries to deal with themes it doesn’t fully understand.

4
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Four individuals wearing robes and headpieces in a dimly lit room with a decorative curtain and framed artwork.
Review

Haunted Mansion review – feels more like a product than a story

by Leila Latif

Justin Simien attempts to breathe life into Disney’s latest ride-based franchise starter, but despite a fine cast the results are a little scattered.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Illuminated Eiffel Tower at night with person riding motorcycle on road in foreground.
Review

Paris Memories review – a poignant mediation on personal trauma

by Hannah Strong

Alice Winocour draws on her brother’s experiences of the 2015 Bataclan attack to create a drama about recovering from trauma.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Woman seated at bar, contemplating with glass of wine in hand, atmospheric lighting creates warm, intimate mood.
Review

You Hurt My Feelings review – slight but charming marital comedy

by Hannah Strong

Nicole Holofcener reteams with Julia Louis-Dreyfus for a gentle comedy about a writer who discovers her husband doesn’t like her work.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people sitting in a vehicle on a beach at sunset, one wearing a patterned scarf and sunglasses, the other looking out the window.
Review

The Damned Don’t Cry

by Marina Ashioti

Fyzal Boulifa’s second feature bears witness to the the dysfunctional bond between a mother-son duo as they drift through urban Morocco.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A woman in glasses and a black coat, standing amidst a group of people wearing white and red uniforms.
Review

La Syndicaliste

by Lillian Crawford

Isabelle Huppert stars as the head union representative of a multinational nuclear power company in Jean-Paul Salomé’s corporate drama.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
A group of three Black children sitting on a bus, looking out of the window. The children appear to be engaged in conversation.
Review

Mother and Son

by Sophie Monks Kaufman

Annabelle Lengronne gives an excellent performance as a single immigrant mother fighting for survival in Léonor Serraille’s second feature.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect